Early Signing Day: 2022 class of walk-ons commit to Wisconsin

Walk-ons are an important part of the foundation of any college football program and the Wisconsin Badgers know that better than most. While your team shouldn’t rely on walk-ons to out-perform their recruiting ranking, many who come to Madison often do. Here is the most recent class of walk-ons that will be donning the Motion W next year.

This list will be updated as more walk-ons finalize their commitments.

John Clifford, Watertown (Wis.) High School, OL, 6-foot-5, 260 pounds

• All–Badger North Conference on offensive line and defensive line as a senior
• Recorded 33 tackles and 3 sacks as a senior
• WFCA All–Region at tight end as a junior
• For career, logged 55 tackles and 5 sacks on defense
• Also had 30 receptions and 5 touchdowns at tight end
• High honor roll student

Gavin Lahm, Kaukauna (Wis.) High School, K, 6-foot, 200 pounds

• First–team all–state by WFCA and Associated Press as a senior
• Honorable mention all–state as a junior
• Two–time first–team All–Fox Valley Association selection
• Also lettered in soccer and golf
• Honor roll student

Jackson Trudgeon, Edgewood (Madison, Wis.) High School, S, 6-foot-1, 175 pounds

• First–team all–state by Associated Press at wide receiver as a senior
• Honorable mention all–state at wide receiver and defensive back by WFCA
• Finalist for Al Toon Award presented to state’s top senior wide receiver
• Second–team all–state by AP at defensive back as a junior
• As a senior, had 50 catches for 1,060 yards and 15 TDs while also running for 377 yards and 6 TDs as a senior
• On defense, had 78 tackles and 2 interceptions
• Finished career with 211 tackles, 6 TFLs and 6 interceptions

Cole Toennies, Middleton (Wis.) High School, WR, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Toennies was the one name on Wednesday that came as a surprise as he hadn’t made any sort of commitment announcement yet.

• First–team all–state by WFCA and second–team all–state by AP at defensive back as a senior
• First–team All–Big 8 Conference at defensive back and wide receiver as a senior
• Caught 40 passes for 710 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior
• Also scored four touchdowns and averaged 27.7 yards on punt returns
• On defense, recorded 44 tackles, 18 passes defended and 2 interceptions
• Honor roll student

Drew Evans, Fort Atkinson (Wis.) High School, OL, 6-foot-4, 255 pounds

• Named first–team all–conference as a senior, finishing with 29 tackles on defense
• Conference, sectional and regional champion in shot put and discus as a junior
• Fort Atkinson High School Athlete of the Year as a junior
• High honor roll student

Austin Harnetiaux, Seattle (Wash.) Prep, OLB, 6-foot-3, 220 pounds

• Three–star recruit by 247Sports
• Seattle Metro League Defensive Player of the Year as a senior
• First–team All–Seattle Metro League at linebacker
• Also lettered in basketball

Zach Gloudeman, River Valley (Wis.) High School, RB, 6-foot-2, 220 pounds

• First–team all–state by WFCA at outside linebacker as a senior
• WFCA Southern Region Defensive Player of the Year
• Recorded 63 tackles, 12 TFLs and 3 sacks as a senior
• Also rushed 28 times for 275 yards and 5 TDs and caught 12 passes for 219 yards and 4 TDs
• All–Southwest Wisconsin Conference on both offense and defense as a junior and senior
• State qualifier in track and field
• High honor roll student