Official Wisconsin Recruiting Thread

[Bernman]

I thought this was as good of a time as any to start this. December/January is always the hottest portion of the football recruiting season. The Badgers only have a few more scholarships available, but the remaining targets should be interesting nonetheless. The Badgers need a DT, Safety, and another RB for depth couldn't hurt. They lead for stud strong safety Keanon Cooper from Texas, who has offers from Michigan, Oklahoma, California, and Alabama; among others. He has an estranged father living in Badgerland, with whom he'd like to form a relationship. They are also in good shape for a monster DT from Kansas by the name of Darius Parish, a former Nebraska Verbal. Also, Mark Ingram (son of the former Packer) is still a possibility. He would be an awesome get.

Tonight, we received another solid commitment in Texas DB Devin Smith. He had offers from Louisville and Iowa. Here's his thread at recruiting planet which contains some video: http://www.recruitingplanet.com/forum/w ... erbal.html

Some of my guys here at RealGM should come and join Recruiting Planet. We're starting to branch out to Basketball Recruiting as well if you're more interested in that sport at the college level (Luke??). MikeIsGood from Realgm also posts at RP: http://www.recruitingplanet.com/forum/

I'll probably make a video mix of this year's class if I can get enough formatted video.

[xTitan]

Didn't UW get verbals from a couple of juco D-lineman? Are they any good or is that a sign of desperation?

[Bernman]

Didn't UW get verbals from a couple of juco D-lineman? Are they any good or is that a sign of desperation?

The reports about Dan Moore that I've heard are very positive. He was likened to former Buckeye star DT Quinn Pitcock by a scout of another program, who also called Moore himself a stud verbatum. Had 4 sacks in one game last year, can eat up multiple blockers, and should be a bonafied contributor immeditately.

Blake Ferras is still a bit of a mystery. The Badgers offered him quite a while ago, so I wouldn't call it desperation, however his stats were pretty non-descript last year. Hard to judge a D-Lineman off stats.

I would say it's a sign of desperation in the sense that our current crop were wholly inadequate (D-Line recruiting stunk before this year...that was no secret), but not necessarily in terms of reaching for unworthy players. Always dangerous going the JUCO route too extensively though, because you'll open up holes in other positions potentially down the line. I'm not too concerned with them only being short term solutions on the D-Line specifically because next year's D-Line class in state is exceptionally strong.

[xTitan]

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The reports about Dan Moore that I've heard are very positive. He was likened to former Buckeye star DT Quinn Pitcock by a scout of another program, who also called Moore himself a stud verbatum. Had 4 sacks in one game last year, can eat up multiple blockers, and should be a bonafied contributor immeditately.

Blake Ferras is still a bit of a mystery. The Badgers offered him quite a while ago, so I wouldn't call it desperation, however his stats were pretty non-descript last year. Hard to judge a D-Lineman off stats.

I would say it's a sign of desperation in the sense that our current crop were wholly inadequate (D-Line recruiting stunk before this year...that was no secret), but not necessarily in terms of reaching for unworthy players. Always dangerous going the JUCO route too extensively though, because you'll open up holes in other positions potentially down the line. I'm not too concerned with them only being short term solutions on the D-Line specifically because next year's D-Line class in state is exceptionally strong.

Thank you for the great input...I believe more than anything the lack of D-line depth was this teams downfall this season and I know they were incredibly thin, particularly at the tackle position, for next year.

[Bernman]

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Thank you for the great input...I believe more than anything the lack of D-line depth was this teams downfall this season and I know they were incredibly thin, particularly at the tackle position, for next year.

No prob.....I agree the thin D-Line was the primary reason for the struggles on defense (safeties didn't help either), but they are going the extra mile to ensure that doesn't happen again by accepting a commitment from yet another DT in Eriks Briedis from Florida. http://www.recruitingplanet.com/forum/w ... erbal.html Here was my assessment from the video provided: " Actually looks like an SSDE to me, which we could use. He doesn't use enough leverage to play inside IMO. But he's nasty, and agile/strong enough to make quick adjustments with his feet outside in order to keep contain. Also, quick enough off the ball to provide an occasional pass rush."

[Bernman]

I conducted a formal interview with '09 in state Badger prospect Jordan Kohout. If you're interested....check it out here: http://www.recruitingplanet.com/forum/w ... ohout.html

Excellent young man.

Here's a link to the youtube video he provided too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVvXYj4-THA

[DH34Phan]

Bernman, he mentioned how Illinois was his #2 place to go, citing that a lot of other recruits are looking at Illinois.

How is Ron Zook such a great recruiter? What makes recruits want to go to Illinois?

I know they are good this year, but for the last 15 years haven't done anything, but now with Zook are relevant again.

[Bernman]

When everyone else is coaching, Zook is recruiting. Illinois seems to plant seeds very early, which indicates respect, and in turn players appreciate and reciprocate. Zooker appears to be a very amiable guy ala Pete Carroll. I certainly wouldn't mind playing for either.

I didn't ask him the same question as you are, directly, but it certainly conjured up in my mind after his initial answer. However, I don't want to walk the fine line of recruiting violations.

[mnstinks]

When everyone else is coaching, Zook is recruiting. Illinois seems to plant seeds very early, which indicates respect, and in turn players appreciate and reciprocate. Zooker appears to be a very amiable guy ala Pete Carroll. I certainly wouldn't mind playing for either.

I didn't ask him the same question as you are, directly, but it certainly conjured up in my mind after his initial answer. However, I don't want to walk the fine line of recruiting violations.

If by amiable you mean agreeable - accepting the wishes of kids, than you may be correct. These two (Carroll, Zook, among others (Meyer, Weiss) will tell kids anything to get them to come to their school.

Where there is smoke there is....


But anyway let's talk recruiting.

[mnstinks]

Cuurent Big Ten rankings leading up to signing day according to Rivals.com:

Rank Team Avg Stars

1) O$U 3.88
2) Michigan 3.68
3) Ill 2.96
4) Minny 3.03
5) PSU 3.07
6) Wis 2.87


Similar rankings per Scout.com.


Looks like UM and O$U lead the way.

I am interested in seeing if RR can pull any suprises in the next couple days to UM.

Pryor likely to O$U, but he would be a nice fit in the new UM offense.
Robinson was Nice get last night by UM. They have a good pipeline from Texas.

[Bernman]

Cuurent Big Ten rankings leading up to signing day according to Rivals.com:

Rank Team Avg Stars

1) O$U 3.88
2) Michigan 3.68
3) Ill 2.96
4) Minny 3.03
5) PSU 3.07
6) Wis 2.87


Similar rankings per Scout.com.


Looks like UM and O$U lead the way.

I am interested in seeing if RR can pull any suprises in the next couple days to UM.

Pryor likely to O$U, but he would be a nice fit in the new UM offense.
Robinson was Nice get last night by UM. They have a good pipeline from Texas.

With the Badgers you pretty much have to take whatever their recruiting ranking is....and add about 2-3. 6th in the Big Ten in recruiting is pretty much par for the course. The only concern is the meteoric rise of Illinois. Because they are on the cusp of recruiting like an elite program.

Rodriguez won't be able to get away with the same garbage as at West Virginia. They were beneficiaries of having absolutely no academic or character standards whatsoever, not to mention the Big East as a major conference is a bit farcical. This is the Big Ten and Michigan is the 2nd best academic school in the conference. No more Pat Lazear's, Chris Henry's, Pac Man Jones', or Noel Devine's for ol' what they do after my program is not my responsibility.

[mnstinks]

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With the Badgers you pretty much have to take whatever their recruiting ranking is....and add about 2-3. 6th in the Big Ten in recruiting is pretty much par for the course. The only concern is the meteoric rise of Illinois. Because they are on the cusp of recruiting like an elite program.

Rodriguez won't be able to get away with the same garbage as at West Virginia. They were beneficiaries of having absolutely no academic or character standards whatsoever, not to mention the Big East as a major conference is a bit farcical. This is the Big Ten and Michigan is the 2nd best academic school in the conference. No more Pat Lazear's, Chris Henry's, Pac Man Jones', or Noel Devine's for ol' what they do after my program is not my responsibility.

Why do you automatically add 2-3 spots for Wiscy?

Michigan is the first or second best academic school behind NW (but they are more private, so its hard to judge). So, RR won't bring in the less qualified academics, but now his recruiting pool is even larger...nationwide, and he will get better kids.

He has already gotten a couple suprises this morning.

[Bernman]

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Why do you automatically add 2-3 spots for Wiscy?

Michigan is the first or second best academic school behind NW (but they are more private, so its hard to judge). So, RR won't bring in the less qualified academics, but now his recruiting pool is even larger...nationwide, and he will get better kids.

He has already gotten a couple suprises this morning.

Because 6th is about what Wisconsin has been posted since the Barry Alvarez/post suckitude started at UW. And during that time, the Badgers have been the 3rd best team in the Big Ten. Many individual player's rankings receive a boost after they commit somewhere besides Wisconsin like: Michigan, OSU, PSU. Wisconsin recruits get docked stars if anything. In state Wisconsin recruits are underranked because Wisconsin doesn't have the reputation of being fertile recruiting grounds. Coaches station themselves in Florida, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Cali, etc.; and they never witness players from here in order to generate enough interest to offer. Having many offers from high majors prompts recruiting services to rank players higher. The recruiting services themselves never see many of these players play either on highlights or in person because they don't get cues from coaches that they are bonafied prospects to evaluate. If a prospect doesn't get evaluated, he receives a low or no ranking. Case in point Mike Taylor. He's a top 3 player in this class for the Badgers IMO, but Rivals has never seen him play, so he receives two stars. There are also a lot of politics involved in rankings. The bigger states are more apt to have voters within services that influence player rankings. So the Texas, Florida, Illinois (always overrated), California, Ohio, etc. are more apt to have voters who influence ratings. Rankings are far from meaningless, but they are just one of many indicators people should use. Wisconsin is the poster child for that considering the unparralleled walk on tradition here. Those players get unfairly unnoticed by everybody when that wouldn't happen in Florida with all the coaches stationed there.

Michigan will always be fine in recruiting because of their established name. My point about RR's perceived success at West Virginia was that he benefited from being relegated to essentially a mid major conference all of a sudden and bent the rules more than they ever were before. So he was lobbed numerous easy wins on the football field and recruits he wouldn't have gotten otherwise off the field.

[El Duderino]

I don't really ever get to excited or concerned if the Badgers class in any given year is ranked say 4th in the Big Ten or 6th, we've generally been a top 3-4 team in the conference either way.

With that said, if my memory is correct, Bielema was labeled as a great recruiter when he was named head coach and i kinda had hoped he'd be able to do stuff recruiting wise what Zook is bringing in the last few years.

In the end though, the results on the field are what matters most. We'll start to see soon how the kids Bielema brings in end up developing and if it can keep us right under the big two (OSU/MI) like Alvarez was able to do and every 3-4-5 years finish on top of the Big Ten.

[worthlessBucks]

Kevin Hart is still out there, the Badgers should definitely pursue signing this kid. If he doesn't work out, there's always the drama club or creative writing.

[ReasonablySober]

Kevin Hart is still out there, the Badgers should definitely pursue signing this kid. If he doesn't work out, there's always the drama club or creative writing.

What a completely f'd up story that was.

[worthlessBucks]

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What a completely f'd up story that was.

Yeah it really is bizarre. I'd love to have a glimpse from that guy's thought process before going through with this plan.

[Bernman]

The Badgers got a big commitment today in the form of Illinois QB Jon Budmayr. Budmayr had offers from Notre Dame, Illinois, Nebraska, Arizona, and Northwestern. Last weekend he was named the Columbus Nike Camp MVP and is an Elite 11 candidate. A far cry from the quarterbacks we've typically won battles for before like Scott Tolzien or James Stallons. And has the potential to be superior to the brand of game manager QB's Wisconsin has featured over the years.

Jon Budmayr: http://www.recruitingplanet.com/forum/w ... erbal.html