Where the Badgers stand after 3 key official visits
The Wisconsin football team has hosted plenty of recruits in the last two weeks to help complete its class of 2025. Here's what three priority targets said about the program. The University of Wisconsin football team is in a strong position after three crucial official visits to the team. Hardy Watts, one of seven known uncommitted 2025 recruits, was one of the players who took official visits. Watts was hosted by freshman left tackle Kevin Heywood and spent significant time with three-star 2025 commit Cam Clark. Other recruits included wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. and defensive lineman Wilnerson Telemaque. Despite these visits, Watts remains considered a priority for the Badgers. The team's focus is on the defensive line, with the recommitment of Middleton’s Torin Pettaway a key win for the position group. The Badgers plan to sign five new scholarship offensive linemen in the spring and three in 2024.
Publicados : 3 semanas atrás por Jake Kocorowski | Wisconsin State Journal, jake kocorowski no Sports
Hardy Watts’ first trip to Madison painted a picture of what the University of Wisconsin football program is.
Watts was one of seven known uncommitted 2025 recruits — and 11 total players including commits — who took official visits to Wisconsin last weekend during a critical June stretch for coach Luke Fickell and his team. Offensive line coach AJ Blazek, along with the rest of the staff, appear to have made an impression on one of the Badgers’ remaining priority targets for this cycle.
“I had an amazing time,” said Watts, whose mother and younger brother accompanied him on the visit. “I really got a great sense for the culture, as well as the coaches and the locker room that was there and kind of every sense of Wisconsin.”
Wisconsin football flips back Middleton lineman from archrival Minnesota
Wisconsin’s already made a splash among that group of uncommitted recruits, with cornerback Jahmare Washington (Chicago Morgan Park) declaring his decision to join the Badgers on Sunday.
BadgerExtra caught up with three other recruits — Watts (Brookline Dexter Southfield, Massachusetts), wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. (Zionsville, Indiana) and defensive lineman Wilnerson Telemaque (Miami Monsignor Edward Pace) — after their official visits to Wisconsin last weekend to get a sense of their feelings about the program.
Watts was hosted by freshman left tackle Kevin Heywood, and he also spent significant time with three-star 2025 commit Cam Clark . Watts said the program’s strength and conditioning, the offensive line group and the majority of the team overall stood out during the official visit. He also thinks his relationship with Blazek was strengthened.
Hilton’s parents and younger brother accompanied him on his second visit to Wisconsin.
Wisconsin football dips into rivals' state and lands commitment from 3-star tight end
“I think what really stood out the most, what kind of made them different from every other school, I think it was the people that they have in Madison,” Hilton said, “and kind of just the people on the football staff.”
This was the first time at Wisconsin for not only Watts, but also Telemaque. Both were surprised by the city of Madison itself.
“Just how much of a college town it is,” Watts said. “I love it. It's the capital city of Wisconsin. It's like the town is sort of built into the university, which is awesome, which definitely appeals to me.”
Wisconsin still has holes to fill for this recruiting cycle nearing the middle of June. That’s most notably seen on the defensive line, though the recommitment of Middleton’s Torin Pettaway is a key win for the staff at that position group.
Telemaque already possesses a long, athletic frame that Wisconsin’s looking for in that unit, as Hudl lists him at 6 foot 6 and 250 pounds . The development plan set forth by assistant E.J. Whitlow, which includes potentially lining up at various spots on the defensive line, stood out to him the most during his time in Madison.
“He has me lined up as a strong side end that could also play the 3(-technique), the 4i, even the 5(-technique),” Telemaque said. “Anything really on the line except the 1(-technique).”
Another 4-star offensive lineman commits to Wisconsin football
Offensive line may not be a pressing need with four players already giving verbal commitments to Wisconsin’s 2025 class, but Watts is still considered a priority for this staff. Three of the four commits — Michael Roeske (Wautoma) , Logan Powell (Phoenix Brophy) and Nolan Davenport (Massillon Washington, Ohio) — are designated as a four-star recruit by at least one recruiting outlet.
Watts, nearly a consensus four-star lineman who’s listed at 6-6 and 290 pounds on Hudl , could complete the second consecutive class where Wisconsin takes five scholarship offensive linemen. That could further increase the depth in this unit, which was lacking in the spring, but Blazek will welcome two transfers and three of its five 2024 signees to the group starting this summer.
“They think I’m extremely talented, (someone who) has a bright future no matter where I choose,” Watts said. “Obviously, they are pushing extremely hard to make me become a Badger, but they think I have a very strong future as an interior lineman with the ability to swing out and kind of play tackle if necessary. But they're going to kind of start me at guard.”
The Badgers already have one wide receiver commit in Cameron Miller , who’s a four-star recruit by On3’s Industry rankings, and he’s expected to play in the vital slot receiver position within Phil Longo’s Air Raid passing scheme.
Veterans air concerns about Wisconsin football's indoor practice facility plans on 'sacred soil'
Wisconsin has hosted both Hilton (listed at 6-1 and 175 pounds on Hudl ) and Muizz Tounkara (a three-star recruit from League City Clear Springs in Texas) on official visits in consecutive weekends in hopes it can add numbers to the outside receiver spots.
“Coach G, I mean, that's my guy,” Hilton said of wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton. “Ever since he stepped foot on campus in January, I've gotten to know him a whole bunch. I got to meet his family, his kids and all that. And then obviously, he's met my family, so I think we’ve developed a really good relationship over time.
“And I think that he envisions me, kind of being the next guy up and being a playmaker for them and everything.”
Wisconsin’s momentum on the recruiting trail has accelerated, as six of its 17 commits have announced their verbal, non-binding intentions to play for the Badgers since June 1.
Another may be on the way later this week, as consensus four-star linebacker Mason Posa (Albuquerque La Cueva) will announce Thursday his commitment to Wisconsin, Oregon or Texas A&M. The Badgers also hope Watts, Hilton and Telemaque could be among the final pieces to their 2025 class.
Telemaque has received substantial Power Four interest, which has included announced offers from Colorado, Illinois, LSU, Louisville, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas A&M. He’s set a commitment date for June 18 after he finishes his official visit schedule. He’s already traveled to West Virginia and Wisconsin in consecutive weekends, and he’ll conclude with Georgia Tech later this week.
“Definitely, (the Badgers are) still in the top three for sure,” Telemaque said.
Hilton, a four-star recruit by Rivals, said he had no other official visits scheduled as of Monday. He named Wisconsin among his top schools alongside former national champions Georgia and Michigan.
The son of former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton also said he was thinking about announcing his commitment sometime this month or in July. Consistency, player development, those who he’ll be around and academics will factor into his decision.
“I think Wisconsin, I obviously thought about them highly, but this kind of made me think even better about them,” Hilton said. “So as of right now, I think they could easily be up there, maybe even No. 1.”
Watts traveled to Clemson for an official visit earlier in June but canceled forthcoming ones to Duke and homestate Boston College. He still intends to head to Michigan the weekend of June 21-23 and plans to commit to a school in early July.
“I am definitely, extremely interested,” Watts said of Wisconsin.
Tópicos: Football