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As the Wisconsin Badgers program enters fall camp, so ends a lot of the craziness of summer recruiting. It also means the all-important official visits are right around the corner. If you haven’t been paying attention to the recruiting roller coaster this summer, you missed an interesting ride.
With that in mind, we give you a look at where things stand in the 2016 class heading in to the fall.
Quarterback
Wisconsin has been set at quarterback since early in the spring, nabbing three-star quarterback and Badger legacy Kare’ Lyles. He’s been quiet in talking to the media since then but it is clear he’s 100 percent committed to the program.
Running Back
Nothing has changed here, as Antonio Williams is the No. 1 player UW has gotten a verbal pledge from in this class. Many schools have attempted to flip him, but Williams has stayed true to the Badgers all spring and summer long. Don’t look for anything to really change here, despite efforts from some of the Southeasts’ biggest schools.
Williams has moved up in the 247Sports composite rankings, coming in as the No. 6 running back and the No. 189-ranked player in the country. He’s also the No. 13-ranked player in the state of North Carolina.
Offensive Line
Wisconsin didn’t have a single offensive lineman committed the last time we updated this board, but that isn’t the case anymore. UW missed out on top target Ben Bredeson, who eventually committed to Michigan, but it didn’t take long after that occurred for the 1b option to verbally pledge to Wisconsin. Bay Port high school’s Cole Van Lanen verbally pledged to the Badgers on June 20th and has been solid to them ever since.
He wasn’t the first option to commit though, as three-star Patrick Kasl committed to UW shortly after receiving an offer and impressing at a summer camp.
With the Badgers not needing a lot along the offensive line, things have been a little quiet on the OL front since those commitments. Look for Wisconsin to try and land one or two more at most, with a lot of work needed to be done in the fall to secure that third commitment.
Tight End
Getting the commitment of Jake Hescock back in late June sealed the need at this position. The 6-7, 235-pound tight end could be a matchup nightmare, but he could also develop in to something else at the University of Wisconsin. Time will tell if Hescock becomes a pure blocking tight end or more with a lot of big time pass-catching talent in front of him.
However, 247Sports’ Barton Simmons is in love with his potential to make himself in to a NFL prospect. It’s easy to see why in this film:
Wide Receiver
Once again the Badgers find themselves in a position to really have to work hard at attracting wide receivers to campus. While many players at the position don’t commit early in the process, UW’s lone wide receiver commit does give the Badgers some hope, as four-star athlete A.J. Taylor could be a game-changer at the position.
He comes to the Badgers as the No. 1 player in the state of Missouri and one of the best overall athletes in the Midwest. It was a huge get for Wisconsin after watching another big target, Demari Simpkins slip right through their fingers and in to the hands of Utah.
There is another potential wide receiver committed though, but Jacob Cesear is a long snapper first and will only get a chance at wide receiver as well. That means there is plenty of work to be done at the position for the Badgers.
So much so that as of late UW has begun stretching athlete offers from the defensive side of the ball to the offensive side of things, especially with three-star Kendric Pryor ($). Getting players on campus this fall is going to be key to recruiting at this position, where UW needs two more players at a bare minimum.
The post 2016 Wisconsin Badgers Football Recruiting: Offensive Update appeared first on Madtown Badgers.
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