Over the past two recruiting cycles, 2019 and 2020, the Wisconsin Badgers have elevated their recruiting status, and are already positioned with a top-15 class in the early goings for 2021. With 15 current commits, and 16 scholarship seniors expected to exhaust their eligibility, the coaching staff has a tremendous start towards a projected number of 18-22 signees given normal attrition.

After another month on the recruiting trail has come and gone, we at B5Q update the state of the current recruiting class, while projecting forward what other players may join the program to become Badgers after some recent activity on the trail.

---

Quarterback (1)

Matt’s take: Deacon Hill was one of the first to commit to the Badgers in the 2022 class, but he also recently earned an offer from the hometown UCLA Bruins. At this point, I think he will hold firm to his pledge with the Badgers, but there are family ties to the Bruins. Hill has ascended in the recruiting rankings over the past two months, and he should continue to be a cornerstone piece to the class.

He plans to stick around and play out his senior season in the spring with his high school team before enrolling in the summer. Taking a quarterback in the 2021 class is needed after not taking a scholarship guy in the 2020 class.

Drew’s take: Despite the Bruins throwing an offer Hill’s way, I don’t think it’ll be enough to sway him away from Madison. The Badgers have been in on Hill forever and he’s been one of the leaders of the 2021 recruiting class on Twitter. It seems like he’s giving UCLA their due respect because all of his sisters went there but he’s going to stick with his original commitment.

---

Running back (2-3)

Matt’s take: At this juncture, I think the Badgers are done at running back. Wisconsin already has as many as three players committed that could eventually play the position with Loyal Crawford, Antwan Roberts, and Jackson Acker all in the fold. Crawford and Roberts are probably the safest bets to end up at tailback given Ackers ability to project to multiple positions.

Crawford and Roberts have different skill sets which make them a nice pairing for the class. Crawford is more of a slashing and quick runner who is able to make defenders miss, while Roberts is more of a downhill straight line runner who is powerful.

Drew’s take: Did you read Belz’s take? Go back up there and do that.

---

Fullback (0-1)

Matt’s take: The Badgers took a scholarship fullback last year with Quan Easterling. I think adding a walk-on to the room would be a more likely route, unless Acker winds up at the position.

Drew’s take: Yup.

---

Wide receiver (1-3)

Matt’s take: I still like where the Badgers are at with Skyler Bell, as Virginia Tech now has multiple receivers committed, and Iowa has a whole host of issues going on off the field. Rutgers is close to home, and West Virginia could make a lot of sense as well, but the Badgers are really going after him.

Last month we had Eric McAlister on this list, but that was before Manjack backed out of his commitment with SMU. Now that he is back on the market, I think he is the wideout with an offer that is most likely to join this class. His decommitment is still pretty fresh, so more schools may join the race, but as things stand Wisconsin is his best opportunity.

It’s not out of the question for the Badgers to try to fit three wide receivers in this class, but back-to-back classes with three seems a bit extreme. Especially if Bell and Manjack pick Wisconsin.

Drew’s take: The Badgers have cooled on McAlister, according to many reports, but I think they’re still keeping him on the back burner, as it were. If Alvis Whitted could have his first choices then Bell and Manjack are it. I think Bell is a take no matter what and then whichever of Manjack and McAlister say “I do” to a Badgers offer first is the other wideout in the class.

---

Tight end (1-2)

Matt’s take: Jack Pugh was a huge get for the Badgers a few months ago. A versatile tight end that can both block and make plays as a receiving threat, he fits really nicely with what the Badgers want to do offensively.

The Badgers were in the thick of things for Gunnar Helm right up until the end, but he recently chose to Texas. Terrance Ferguson opted to go to Oregon. Wisconsin doesn’t have a lot of other offers out there right now, so I think one tight end might be the way to go unless another prospect climbs their board.

Wisconsin would probably be fine taking just one tight end in 2021 after taking two the past two cycles, but more offers could definitely come out soon at the position now that Helm went elsewhere.

Drew’s take: With how Wisconsin uses their tight ends, adding another one in this class would be nice. Pugh was a huge recruiting win for UW but as Belz said the other offers at tight end have all gone elsewhere recently.

UW is still looking at Caleb Schmitz, a teammate of 5-star OT Nolan Rucci, but Schmitz is currently committed to Cincinnati. The Badgers haven’t offered him yet but with all of their other targets off the board it may be time to see what he says.

---

Offensive line (2-3)

Matt’s take: The Badgers already have one of the best offensive line tandems committed in the entire country with four-stars JP Benzschawel and Riley Mahlman. Why not make it a trio?

I have been bullish Wisconsin’s chances with Nolan Rucci some time now given the amount of exposure he has had with the program with his brother Hayden already on the team. I think it makes a lot of sense for him, but recruiting is fickle and there is a long way to go before signing day.

Drew’s take: At this point the Badgers already have a great offensive line recruiting class with their two commits. To take it from “great” to “out of this world amazing” Wisconsin needs Nolan Rucci. All of the news has been trending towards UW over the past two months and he would be a massive win for the Badgers. Beating out Penn State and Clemson won’t be easy, however, so this should be a dogfight.

---

Defensive line (1-2)

Matt’s take: Mike Jarvis is the lone member of the class along the defensive line for the Badgers after committing back in early June. He is a really good fit with what Wisconsin traditionally does in their multiple defensive look that fluctuates between the 3-4 and 2-4-5. Marquise Brunson is really the only other defensive lineman that the Badgers are really actively recruiting currently.

Things could change, but I still think the plan for UW is to load up at edge type players, with the understanding that one or two of them is bound to physically outgrow the position to become a defensive lineman. The Badgers are in on so many talented outside linebackers that I think that plan provides the best opportunity to bring in high tier talent to the defense to pair with Jarvis. So while Brunson is still an option, I think the Badgers would prefer to close on a couple outside linebackers instead.

Drew’s take: Wisconsin doesn’t need another defensive lineman in this class, although adding a player like Brunson would be a pleasant surprise. I think the Badgers will focus their attention at other spots for the time being.

---

Outside linebacker (3-4)

Matt’s take: After an early commitment from in-state standout Ayo Adebogun, the Badgers landed a pair of huge edge players in Darryl Peterson and TJ Bollers back in June. Those three players form a tremendous nucleus for Bobby April to work with, that could still grow if Wisconsin is able to land either Yanni Karlaftis who is committing in early August or Jake Ratzlaff who is still choosing between hockey or college football.

Karlaftis is going to be hard to pry away from Purdue, but Wisconsin is right there at the top with the Boilermakers. Ratzlaff is still awaiting the results of the NHL Draft, which will be a determining factor in his decision to play hockey at Minnesota or pursue football. He is a really talented athlete no matter which sport he decides. If he chooses football, I think Wisconsin is a perfect marriage for his abilities.

Drew’s take: I’m still not convinced that Ratzlaff will pick football over hockey, although if he does Wisconsin will be tops on his list, and for whatever reason I have a gut feeling that Karlaftis will spurn the hometown Boilermakers and come to Madison. I’m basically trying to speak it into existence at this point.

---

Inside linebacker (2-3)

Matt’s take: Barring anything unforeseen, Wisconsin is probably done at inside linebacker. Bryan Sanborn is one of the highest ranked commits in the class, and he has a very similar feel to that of his brother Jack who is excelling in the Badger defense. His running mate Jake Chaney is a quick and explosive downhill backer in the mold of Chris Orr that make the duo a really good one-two punch.

Maybe a guy like Damon Ollison — a high school teammate of Darryl Peterson — is a best available grab late in the cycle, but depth at inside linebacker is pretty solid on the current roster.

Drew’s take: The Badgers are done at ILB unless every other recruit they are chasing chooses another school. Chaney and Sanborn are a talented, if underrated, tandem and Wisconsin is pleased with them.

---

Cornerback (1-3)

Matt’s take: The most recent commitment for the Badgers, Ricardo Hallman shut down his recruitment back in late June. He was a big get for the staff, and he continues a strong pipeline of cornerbacks coming north from the Sunshine State.

RJ Regan recently made his verbal declaration to Arizona State, making it far more likely that the staff holds pat with one cornerback in the 2021 class. Regan was the last uncommitted cornerback prospect with an offer, so unless more offers go out, Hallman is the singular guy.

This is definitely a position to watch though, as taking another cornerback could make a ton of sense in terms of roster management.

Drew’s take: Losing out on Regan, who was long considered a Wisconsin lean, was a gut punch. UW should probably take another corner in this class especially with all of the upperclassmen on their roster currently. A name that 247Sports mentions as a player UW has looked at is 3-star CB Andre Powell (Naples, Fla.). He’s 6-foot and 190 pounds and only has offers from Southern Miss and Tulane. If Wisconsin were to turn up the heat they would potentially be the favorite.

---

Safety (1-2)

Matt’s take: I still think that Hunter Wohler is probably the most important recruit in the 2021 class. The hard hitting safety is a difference maker on the back end of the defense that is good in coverage and in run support. A consensus four-star recruit, Wohler should see playing time early in his career.

Logistically taking a second safety would tend to make sense with Madison Cone, Eric Burrell, and Collin Wilder all entering their senior season, but the recent commitment of four-star safety Braelon Allen in the 2022 class might make that not necessary.

For now, I will stick with Wohler as the only safety in the class, but Jim Leonhard has some room for maneuvering in the secondary with offers if he wants.

Drew’s take: I don’t think that Wisconsin will take another safety in this class now that they’ve secured 2022 4-star Braelon Allen. Wohler and Allen is the future of the back end of the secondary and I, for one, couldn’t be more excited.

---

Athlete/specialist (1-2)

Matt’s take: Jackson Acker is the type of football player you want on your team, no matter where he lines up on the field. He could project to running back, fullback, or linebacker depending on how his body develops. The Verona product will get the “athlete” tag for now, but make no mistake, he is one of the more talented players in the class.

Kicker Taylor Bittman out of Arrowhead High School currently has a walk-on offer from the Badgers as well, and would be a good get in the specialist category.

Drew’s take: Love in-state walk-on kickers don’t we folks? I’m excited to see where Acker ends up once at Wisconsin because I think he could excel at a number of positions.

---

Overall Breakdown