After landing a commitment Monday from Max Lofy, a three-star cornerback who Wisconsin had prioritized since the spring, the Badgers hope to get some momentum started as the dead period is drawing to a close.

Wisconsin offers 2020 wide receiver

With top of the board wide receiver prospects Parker Washington and Daniel Jackson each opting to play for Big Ten foes in Penn State and Minnesota, the coaching staff is still searching for another target to pair with commit Chimere Dike.

Monday, Ted Gilmore extended an offer out to wide Isaac Smith out of Tennessee. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound prospect holds other offers from Missouri, Army, Navy and a host of FCS programs. During his junior season he recorded 53 receptions, 981 yards and nine touchdowns on his way to earning first team all-region honors. Smith is currently ranked as a three-star by 247Sports, and a two-star prospect by Rivals.

Wisconsin offers 2021 in-state running back

The Badgers rarely offer running backs from within the state borders. However, after signing Julius Davis from Menominee Falls in the 2018 recruiting class, that trend may have changed.

Wisconsin has already landed a commitment from soon to be junior running back/athlete Jackson Acker out of Verona for the 2021 class, but that did not stop John Settle and Chris Haering from offering in-state 2021 standout Loyal Crawford on Tuesday.

The 6-foot, 190 pound junior to be from Eau Claire Memorial has been on the coaching staff’s radar for some time after posting nearly 700 yards and eight touchdowns in only five games during his sophomore season, while playing both running back and defensive back.

John Settle had the opportunity to see Crawford up close at one of Wisconsin's summer camps during the weekend of June 1st, and Settle must have come away impressed.

Wisconsin hopes to pair the talented Crawford in a duo with Acker and help bolster the depth in the backfield. With Jonathan Taylor, Bradrick Shaw and Garret Groshek all projected to be gone by the time they would step on campus in a few years, stockpiling runners is of paramount importance.

Three 2020 commits in the updated top 247

Today 247Sports updated their Top247 prospects rankings in the 2020 class, and there are three Wisconsin commits that made the cut.

Outside linebacker Nick Herbig of Honolulu is at the top of their rankings as the 105th best player in the country, while in-state offensive tackle Trey Wedig of Kettle Moraine High School landed at number 116 and in-state offensive tackle Jack Nelson of Stoughton rounded them out at number 118.

Wisconsin hopes to add to that list though, as two of their top remaining targets, both of whom officially visited on the weekend of June 21st also cracked the recently updated rankings. Outside linebacker target Kaden Johnson, out of Minneapolis made the list at number 112, and running back target Kevontre Bradford, out of Texas, landed at 176. Both four star recruits would be welcomed additions to a growing 2020 class.

2019 High School Butkus Award Nominees

Two of Wisconsin’s linebacker commits in the 2020 class, Malik Reed and Herbig, have been nominated for the 2019 High School Butkus Award. There are only 50 high school linebackers that are nominated each year, with the award given out annually to the best linebacker in the nation. The winner is voted upon by a 51 person committee comprised of coaches, scouts and sports journalists.

Stay tuned for more happenings in the world of Wisconsin recruiting on Bucky’s 5th Quarter.