Badgers Football 2019

homer · December 17, 2019

I'd have preferred a link to the Sybaris Pool Suites reservation page but this will do.

CheezWizHed · December 18, 2019

I'd have preferred a link to the Sybaris Pool Suites reservation page but this will do.

Yeah, but Yoga Priestess is a super host!

LouisEly · December 18, 2019

Sooooo.... back to Badgers football.

Early 2020 recruiting class signing period begins tomorrow. Usually the Badgers get most of their class to sign early, with a handful of them enrolling early and participating in spring practice.

Biggest question marks are the two RBs, Jalen Berger and Kevonte Bradford. No RB in this class yet. With Schiano being hired at Berger's home state Rutgers, it sounds like Berger is going to wait to see who else commits to Rutgers; I think he is also waiting to see if LSU lands the #1 RB recruit Zachary Evans, as he also has an offer from LSU.

They already have a big LB class, but it sounds like it's a two-horse race for Kaden Johnson between UW and Nebraska. Scott Frost must be a really good salesman. To quote their defensive coordinator from last off-season, they're a 5-7 team until they prove otherwise.

Rumors from some coaches' tweets suggest two recruits added to the class tomorrow. Kaden Johnson is signing at 7:45am, and some of the recruiting gurus switched their crystal balls to UW today. Adding Johnson and one of the RBs will make it one of their best classes ever in terms of rankings.

tmwiese55 · December 18, 2019

Johnson picks UW over Nebraska. Two top level LB recruits from MN who pick UW over MN and Nebraska. AS usual, a loaded OL and LB class. Still waiting on a RB but it seems one of those guys is going to pick UW. And as usual, seriously lacking at CB and WR.

homer · December 18, 2019

That's a huge pickup. 2020 is a great class.

monkeyman343434 · December 18, 2019

Sooooo.... back to Badgers football.

Early 2020 recruiting class signing period begins tomorrow. Usually the Badgers get most of their class to sign early, with a handful of them enrolling early and participating in spring practice.

Biggest question marks are the two RBs, Jalen Berger and Kevonte Bradford. No RB in this class yet. With Schiano being hired at Berger's home state Rutgers, it sounds like Berger is going to wait to see who else commits to Rutgers; I think he is also waiting to see if LSU lands the #1 RB recruit Zachary Evans, as he also has an offer from LSU.

They already have a big LB class, but it sounds like it's a two-horse race for Kaden Johnson between UW and Nebraska. Scott Frost must be a really good salesman. To quote their defensive coordinator from last off-season, they're a 5-7 team until they prove otherwise.

Rumors from some coaches' tweets suggest two recruits added to the class tomorrow. Kaden Johnson is signing at 7:45am, and some of the recruiting gurus switched their crystal balls to UW today. Adding Johnson and one of the RBs will make it one of their best classes ever in terms of rankings.

Berger isn't going to LSU, I don't believe there is any offer out there from LSU at this point either. They've got 22 committs (outside of flips) at this point and are waiting on Evans, Burch, and Dumervil to fill out the class. https://www.tigerdroppings.com/lsu-football-recruiting/2020-early-signing-day-tracker/87461331/

tmwiese55 · December 18, 2019

Sounds like Bradford isn't picking today and I assume Berger is going to Rutgers. So at this point I'd guess they'll just have to look at who's still available after today and kind of restart the RB recruiting. Bradford is likely seeing where guys above him choose today and then hoping it frees up a spot for him. As a hypothetical, let's say a spot LSU was holding for a guy ranked #6 ends up picking Bama. Then he could go into that spot. Just using those schools as an example of the situation I'm talking about, not saying that's accurate.

It really shouldn't be so difficult to get a top notch RB recruit here.

BTW, Tigerdroppings is the best name of a college football site. LSU just gets it.

homer · December 18, 2019

Ohio State has signed 7 top 100 players. The rest of the Big Ten has signed 6.

DuWayne Steurer · December 18, 2019

Ohio State has signed 7 top 100 players. The rest of the Big Ten has signed 6.

It's not a talent gap....

tmwiese55 · December 18, 2019

Yea but we put JJ Watt in the NFL 8 years ago.

JosephC · December 18, 2019

Johnson picks UW over Nebraska. Two top level LB recruits from MN who pick UW over MN and Nebraska. AS usual, a loaded OL and LB class. Still waiting on a RB but it seems one of those guys is going to pick UW. And as usual, seriously lacking at CB and WR.

They have pretty good youth and depth at cornerback and I wasn't really anticipating they would do that much there. Rivals has them down for three WRs in this class so we'll have to see how those guys develop. I do think that is a potential problem area based on fall practices this year. I know when the season started the coaches really liked the top 4 but really wanted the scholarship players in that next tier (Abbott, Mustapha, Perry, Cruickshank) to step up and none of them did. Dunn and Krumholz ended up as #5 and #6 and were never remotely challenged for those spots, which doesn't bode well for all the guys that were further down the list. So out of the three they brought in for this class, it's pretty important that one or two of those guys become good players because there could be significant issues at WR down the line. And then there still is Bracey from last year's class...didn't hear much about him but that is to be expected as he was an automatic redshirt with Cephus, Taylor, Davis and Pryor.

wallus · December 18, 2019

Thanks for the Santa Monica Airbnb ads that I am getting on my social media tmwiese55...

tmwiese55 · December 18, 2019

LOL, I can't believe how much attention a simple misclick like that got. I fixed it rather quickly, your guys fault for looking at it haha. But hey, for Ads pics of southern Cali could be worse right?

Yes I agree CB and WR all that are covered for now. But at CB they just could always use better athletes and should always be trying there that's our gap vs OSU. For WRs, those good WRs are all surprisingly getting close to gone and who knows on the guys after. Taylor is gone this year, maybe Cephus too. Davis took a big step back this year. Not trying to be negative as they've done great in all the spots we expect them too. So need the WRs coming and getting ready next year for when all these guys are gone in 2021. Overall, the areas we need to close the gap vs OSU were more of the same. Not sure what can be done on CB, but maybe some kind of all out blitz at those positions next year. Go for all the top guys you can and get in early, invest as much as you can in that spot and see what happens. Chances are you strike out, but give it a shot.

LouisEly · December 18, 2019

Depending on size, guys can easily flip from WR to DB. Natrell Jamerson came to UW as a WR, and left as a 5th round draft pick as a defensive back and is playing in the NFL. UW has been very good at projecting guys to other positions (both Edwards, Baun, Ingold, and Biadasz was originally recruited as a DL). Just get the athletes in and figure out who can play WR and who can play DB.

Devin Chandler is a little light now, but add 15 lbs and he'd be a good sized CB. Maybe he's one of those guys who can flip.

JosephC · December 20, 2019

I went through the roster and the Badgers are returning 16 scholarship defensive backs next year.

Seniors = Collin Wilder (S), Caesar Williams (CB), Eric Burrell (S), Madison Cone (S)

Juniors = Faion Hicks (CB), Rachad Wildgoose (CB), Deron Harrell (CB), Scott Nelson (S)

Sophomores = Reggie Pearson (S), Alexander Smith (CB), Donte Burton (CB), Travian Blaylock (CB)

Freshman = Dean Engram (CB), Titus Toler (S), Semar Melvin* (CB), James Williams (CB)

* = Melvin has played in four games, will go to sophomore if he plays in the Rose Bowl

They have a pretty good number of players here already. Generally teams don't wander too far over 16 when it comes to DB scholarships, so if there are no losses here then Lofy would make #17.

However, I do expect plenty of players leaving (and maybe a couple of those DBs listed above). I have them at 73 returning scholarship players next year...and then subtract the two obvious losses in Taylor and Biadasz...that brings them down to 71. So 14 openings and they have 19 commitments....so expect at least another five "veterans" to be lost through early entry, transfer, retirement, injury, etc.

JosephC · December 20, 2019