Five University of Wisconsin football players were named to All-Big Ten Conference teams on Tuesday.
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5 things to watch for the Wisconsin Badgers on National Signing Day
NEW WEAPONS
The Badgers’ lack of depth at receiver has been evident this season. Injuries to seniors Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor have hampered what the offense can do, and the young players behind them, with the exception of freshman Chimere Dike, weren’t ready to contribute.
UW has known commitments from four-star receiver Markus Allen, who originally was committed to Michigan, and three-star receiver Skyler Bell (above). The Badgers also have commitments from three-star running backs Loyal Crawford and Antwan Roberts, both of whom can catch the ball out of the backfield.
KEY REPLACEMENTS
The immediate futures of some current Badgers standouts add to the importance of a few 2021 recruits this year.
Tight end Jake Ferguson, the team’s leading receiver and touchdown scorer, has an NFL decision to make this offseason. The NCAA approved a waiver that stated this season wouldn’t count against a player’s eligibility, so Ferguson — who’s played often since his freshman year — would have two seasons to use with the Badgers. UW landing four-star tight end Jack Pugh becomes an even bigger accomplishment should Ferguson forgo those years and enter the pros. The Badgers have done well with tight ends recently, bringing in Clay Cundiff and Hayden Rucci in 2019, Cam Large and Cole Dakovich in 2020 and Pugh in 2021, so they should have a few options to replace Ferguson if he leaves.
ANY SURPRISES?
The Badgers landed one of the last of their highly sought-after targets with Ratzlaff’s commitment in late November. But that doesn’t mean a surprise or two couldn’t happen on National Signing Day.
Four-star outside linebacker Yanni Karlaftis (West Lafayette, Indiana) is expected to make his commitment during the early signing period, so a Wednesday announcement is possible. Karlaftis (above), whose brother George plays defensive end for Purdue, has narrowed his field of offers to UW, Purdue, California and Oregon.
ROSTER CONSTRUCTION A CHALLENGE
Wisconsin offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen (71) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Speaking of that NCAA waiver, it adds another layer of intrigue to how UW’s staff will approach the 2021 class. UW has a number of senior starters — safety Eric Burrell, defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk and tackle Cole Van Lanen (above) among them — who have said they won’t or likely won’t return, while others might.
Assuming the 21 recruits who have announced their oral commitment to the program will have spots on the roster, the number of walk-ons the program can accept this class may drop. The NCAA is expected to change scholarship-limit rules for next year so programs can accommodate returning seniors and incoming freshmen.
BIG TEN PRIMER
The Badgers, despite a shaky season on the field, are on pace for the third-best recruiting class in the Big Ten Conference.
Ohio State leads the way with the No. 2 class nationally, which includes keeping five-star defensive end Jack Sawyer (Pickerington, Ohio), one of the nation’s top-ranked recruits, close to home. The Buckeyes trail only Alabama in the national rankings heading into Wednesday.
