Our Wisconsin State Journal team offers a closer look at the athletes that have committed to playing football at the University of Wisconsin beginning in the 2022 season.
With 13 commitments, the Badgers' class ranks No. 41 in the nation on 247Sports and No. 45 on Rivals.
MYLES BURKETT
Franklin quarterback Myles Burkett was the first oral commitment of UW's 2022 recruiting class.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Myles Burkett became the Badgers’ first Class of 2022 recruit when he announced his decision in January.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder from Franklin is a three-star recruit per 247Sports and Rivals, and showed great mobility and arm strength in his junior season. He battled back from a knee injury as a sophomore to throw for 1,236 and 11 touchdowns and rush for 180 yards and a score in a pandemic-shortened season.
Rio/Fall River's Barrett Nelson (79) overpowers a Brookfield Academy lineman as he pressures Blue Knights quarterback Jonah Jensen (3) during a game in October 2020.
JIM KELSH, For Capital Newspapers
As his recruiting stock started to rise, the Badgers were able to secure a commitment from Fall Rivers’ Barrett Nelson in late June.
The offensive tackle was 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds after his junior season, and his quickness off the ball has made him a load on both the offensive and defensive lines. Nelson is a three-star recruit per 247Sports and a two-star on Rivals.
After wowing UW coaches at a pair of camps, Monroe tight end JT Seagreaves accepted a scholarship offer in late June.
Seagreaves is an intriguing prospect for the Badgers — at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, he has the physical frame to grow into an imposing tight end, and he possesses sprinter speeds. He’s averaged more than 21 yards per catch each of the past two seasons and was starting to gain more Power Five conference interested when he committed to UW.
In multiple trips to UW’s campus in June, Cade Yacamelli was called “a football player” by UW coaches rather than locking him into a position. He earned a scholarship offer after an impressive camp workout and accepted it in late June.
The consensus three-star athlete was starting to earn more recruiting attention from Power Five schools when he accepted the Badgers’ offer. UW was the first Power Five offer for the 6-foot, 200-pounder. He’s played receiver, running back and defensive back in high school, but likely projects as a receiver or defensive back in college.
When A’Khoury Lyde accepted a UW scholarship offer in late June, he became the first player on the defensive side of the ball to commit in the 2022 class.
Lyde (5-foot-11, 170 pounds), a consensus three-star recruit, has strong ball skills and a willingness to hit that separates him from other cornerbacks.
The Badgers landed a tall, speedy receiver when Tommy McIntosh committed in late June.
The DeWitt, Michigan, native stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 200 pounds. He uses his body to shield off defenders at the point of the catch and does well catching the ball away from his body. His Hudl page lists a 4.47-second 40-yard dash time, and he has breakaway speed when he gets in the open field and can use his long strides.
UW beefed up its defensive front by landing defensive tackle Curtis Neal.
Neal — a 6-foot-2, 310-pounder — had more than 25 scholarship offers, and reportedly was deciding between UW and Ohio State at the end of his recruiting process. Neal is a product of William Amos Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina, where the Badgers found receiver Devin Chandler in last year’s cycle.
Avyonne Jones picks off a pass for Southlake Carroll.
Jim Leonhard may have found another rangy, smart cornerback to add to his secondary in Avyonne Jones, who committed in to UW in late June.
Jones — who hails from Southlake, Texas — was on campus the weekend of June 18 for an official visit and had narrowed an extensive offer list to UW and California. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound defensive back was previously committed to Oklahoma State, but retracted that commitment in late May.
The Badgers landed the top-ranked player in Wisconsin for the sixth consecutive recruiting class when Joe Brunner committed the last week of June.
Brunner — a 6-foot-6, 300-pound prospect from Milwaukee who attends Whitefish Bay High School — is a consensus four-star recruit and a top-10 offensive tackle in the nation.
Receiver Vinny Anthony II — a consensus three-star prospect from Louisville, Kentucky — joined UW's class on June 30.
Possessing a good burst of speed and long arms that extend his catch radius, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Anthony has a chance to play across the formation as a receiver.
Austin Brown — who hails from Johnston City, Illinois, a small town outside of Carbondale — was considering offers from Boston College, Illinois, Michigan and Northwestern before choosing UW. The consensus three-star prospect had 21 known scholarship offers.
The Badgers locked in their first incoming transfer of the class in late October in Kalon Gervin, a cornerback from Michigan State.
Gervin played in 19 games for the Spartans, including seven career starts. He had 22 tackles, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery at MSU. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder from Detroit will add some experience to a cornerback group that loses its top two starters to graduation.
UW added an athletic defensive line prospect in mid-November when Tristan Monday flipped his commitment from Arizona to the Badgers.
UW was interested in Monday since he arrived in high school, but his size then didn't lend itself to a natural position fit in the Badgers' defense. Now standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 240 pounds, he'll start his career as a defensive end. UW offered him a scholarship in early November and he accepted it after visiting campus Nov. 12-14.
After much discussion and thought, Tristan has changed his commitment and will be accepting a football scholarship offer from the University of Wisconsin. He has the utmost respect and admiration for the University of Arizona but this is an opportunity he cannot ignore. pic.twitter.com/hqf8GGqZwp
Vaughan, a 6-foot-4 linebacker from Walled Lake, Michigan, committed to UW in late November, choosing the Badgers over offers from programs like Colorado, Florida State, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and others.
Vaughan is rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals.
Another pass-catcher made his oral commitment to the University of Wisconsin football team Wednesday, adding to a busy month of recruiting for the program.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin welcome on Marquette sports law professor Matt Mitten to discuss the changes in college sports related to name, image and likeness.
UW athletic director Chris McIntosh says Badgers athletes will be educated on name, image and likeness opportunities, but they must stay informed on rules and stay within them.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew, Todd Milewski and Abby Schnable get together on Zoom to talk about former Badger Cole Caufield in the Stanley Cup Finals, name, image and likeness rules, current Badger basketball player Jonathan Davis in the FIBA U19 World Cup and more.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin give you their takeaways from Big Ten Media Days last week and then examine what the Badgers football team has at the quarterback, running back and fullback positions.
Fans will get their first chance in over a year and a half to see the University of Wisconsin football and volleyball teams in person at a crossover event on campus later this month.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin get together over Zoom to discuss the four players they’re most excited to see when Badgers football training camp opens and the break down the wide receiver and tight end positions.
The Wisconsin coach said it's "absolutely worth looking into" a larger college football playoff field, but there are some things he thinks decision-makers should keep in mind before making choice.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin get together to talk Paul Chryst’s confidence in the Badgers, some thoughts on training camp, Top 25 polls, and break down UW’s offensive and defensive lines.
The former four-star recruit who played for powerhouse Clemson has stood out at running back during the first week of Wisconsin football's training camp.
In two of the last three seasons, Wisconsin started ranked and ended unranked. It's happened a total of four time to the Badgers in the previous 13 seasons, but the last time Wisconsin went two straight seasons finishing outside the Top 25 was 2003.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin get together over Zoom to discuss training camp’s ups and downs for the Badgers’ offense, some trends we’ve noticed and then break down the inside and outside linebackers.
Senior wide receiver Danny Davis didn’t practice with the University of Wisconsin football team Friday after suffering a head injury earlier this week.
Defensive backs making plays on the ball, a veteran defensive lineman adding to his repertoire and more notable items from Wisconsin's football practice.
In the first part of our position-by-position breakdown series, tight end Jake Ferguson discusses this year's quarterback corps as we take an in-depth look at Graham Mertz and Co.
In the second part of our position-by-position preview series, UW linebacker Noah Burks discusses this year's backfield as we take an in-depth look at the running backs and fullbacks.
In the fourth part of our position-by-position breakdown series, UW quarterback Graham Mertz analyzes his targets this season as we take an in-depth look at the receiving corps.
In the fifth part of our position-by-position breakdown series, UW nose tackle Keeanu Benton breaks down the offensive line as we take an in-depth look at the group tasked with protecting Graham Mertz.
In the sixth part of our position-by-position breakdown series, UW offensive lineman Tyler Beach discusses the Badgers' defensive line as we take an in-depth look at how the group is coming together for this season.
In the seventh part of our position-by-position breakdown series, UW fullback John Chenal breaks down the Badgers' inside linebackers as we take an in-depth look at the veteran-led group.
In the eighth part of our position-by-position breakdown series, UW offensive lineman Tyler Beach discusses the Badgers' outside linebackers as we take an in-depth look at the group.
In the ninth part of our position-by-position breakdown series, UW wide receiver Kendric Pryor breaks down the Badgers cornerbacks as we take an in-depth look at the group.
In the 10th part of our position-by-position breakdown series, UW cornerback Caesar Williams discusses his teammates in the secondary as we take an in-depth look at the Badgers' safeties.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin discuss the Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12’s alliance and what it means for the Badgers, break down the cornerbacks, safeties and specialists, and Big Ten picks are back!
The Badgers are craving a Big Ten title with a College Football Playoff berth for dessert. Of course, it’s premature to talk about the latter as a menu option until Paul Chryst and UW somehow finally finish the main course.
Camp Randall’s gates are back open this year, and Wisconsin's Saturday debut against Big Ten foe Penn State is an experience fans and local businesses have been awaiting eagerly.
Allen, a four-star recruit from Fond du Lac, likely will see more snaps on special teams than on offense as he learns more about the tailback position.
Freshman running back Loyal Crawford was dismissed from the University of Wisconsin football team and freshman running back Antwan Roberts was suspended, according to a release from the school.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin break down the Loyal Crawford situation, preview No. 12 Wisconsin's game against No. 19 Penn State, and pick Big Ten games.
"This is going to be one of the deeper teams we have, which gives us the chance to be as successful as this team can possibly be, and that's all we can ask from each team each year,'' Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said.
A phone number mix-up prevented Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst from hearing from freshman tailback Loyal Crawford, who was dismissed from the team Tuesday.
Whether you are heading down to Camp Randall or watching from the comfort of your couch, the State Journal has Badgers fans covered with a breakdown of everything they need to know as No. 12 Wisconsin kicks off football season against No. 19 Penn State on Saturday.
Get the latest postgame updates from the Wisconsin State Journal after the 12th-ranked Badgers fell to the 19th-ranked Nittany Lions 16-10 on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
Colten Bartholomew, the State Journal’s Wisconsin Badgers football beat reporter, shares three observations from the first half of Saturday’s game against Penn State.
No. 16 UCLA, No. 19 Virginia Tech, No. 20 Mississippi and No. 25 Auburn moved into the AP Top 25, but history is littered with teams that made brief, early season appearances in the poll only to fade away.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin break down what’s up with Graham Mertz, the impact of Leo Chenal’s COVID-19 case, how we see the Badgers matchup with Eastern Michigan, and make Big Ten picks.
From missing on third-and-short opportunities and not using pre-snap motion, No. 18 UW's offense has a lot to examine before taking on No. 10 Notre Dame.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin get together on Zoom to break down the Badgers, Big Ten connections to the USC coaching job and make Big Ten picks.
Milwaukee native Ralph Kurek fondly recalls scoring the winning touchdown in the closing minutes of the Badgers' last win over Notre Dame in football, which came in 1963.
In an appearance on Jim Rome's radio show Thursday, Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst said playing against Notre Dame's Jack Coan, a former UW quarterback, will be different.
Wisconsin players and coaches refuse to buy into the hype of QB Jack Coan playing against his former team. They insist "it's Wisconsin versus Notre Dame."
Wisconsin's defense under defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has been elite at taking away opponents' easy passes. Here's why it will be crucial this week.
Wisconsin's former athletic director discussed the Badgers finally playing Notre Dame in football, expanding the College Football Playoff, UW keeping Jim Leonhard, and how he's still not over losing to Duke in the 2015 NCAA tournament.
Whether you are heading down to Soldier Field or watching from the comfort of your couch, the State Journal has Badgers fans covered with a complete breakdown of everything they need to know as No. 18 Wisconsin looks to take down the 12th-ranked Fighting Irish in Chicago.
Wisconsin offensive linemen discuss what they need to change and their thoughts on the rotation occurring at their position after a poor performance against Notre Dame.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin take a 30,000-foot view of the Badgers offense and if their style is tenable long-term, what’s wrong with UW’s offensive line, and how the defense has a tough test against Michigan’s offensive line. They wrap up by making Big Ten picks.
Badgers defensive end Matt Henningsen is a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation’s William V. Campbell Trophy, an award given to college football’s premier scholar-athlete.
Fans were at their wit’s end early in the second quarter, raining boos on the offense after it started the game with four consecutive three-and-outs. Then things changed.
Offensive line issues, Chase Wolf's throwing motion and running backs' effort in pass protection all caught Wisconsin football beat reporter Colten Bartholomew's eye against Michigan.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin get together to discuss how the Badgers can salvage their football season, the state of the offensive line, preview the matchup with Illinois and give out Big Ten picks.
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said QB Graham Mertz and TE Jake Ferguson practiced throughout the week in advance of the Badgers' matchup against Illinois.
Jalen Berger, a four-star recruit out of Newark, N.J. who was one of the top recruits in UW's 2020 class, is the third running back to leave the team this season. Here's what we know.
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst did not offer details on Jalen Berger's dismissal, but multiple sources said Berger missed meetings and workouts before being removed from the team.
Wisconsin's nation-leading rushing defense will have its hands full with the Black Knights' triple-option rushing attack that ranks second in the country.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin break down the Badgers’ dismissal of Jalen Berger, the matchup with Army and more.
Saturday marks just the fourth meeting between UW and a service academy program and the first since 1979, but all three previous matchups were notable for their own reasons.
Junior tailback Chez Mellusi bet on himself when he decided to transfer from Clemson to Wisconsin, and he's been a needed voice in a diminishing running backs room.
Whether you are heading down to Camp Randall or watching from the comfort of your couch, the State Journal has Badgers fans covered with a complete breakdown of everything they need to know as Wisconsin takes on Army on Saturday night in Madison.
The UW football team won for the second week in a row as Graham Mertz and the Badgers escaped with a 20-14 victory over the Army Black Knights in a battle under the Camp Randall lights.
UW’s athletic department tweeted two hours before the game that “unforeseen circumstances specific to this game” created a situation in which not all the entry gates were fully staffed.
Getting a two-score lead before the half was important enough to Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst that he pulled out some new wrinkles on the Badgers’ fourth drive.
The Badgers climbed back to .500 on the season, but Saturday's win over the Black Knights likely won’t do much for them in terms of perception nationally. Here's why.
Chandler leaves the UW football program after recording two catches for 28 yards, 10 kick returns for 241 yards and one rushing attempt for 18 yards in 10 career games.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin break down if the Badgers are truly in the Big Ten West race, what tweaks the offense needs, Devin Chandler, the Purdue matchup and more.
UW's secondary must deal with another stud receiver in Purdue's David Bell if the Badgers want to stay in the race for the wide-open Big Ten West title.
Braelon Allen's maturity and willingness to seek guidance helped make him an integral piece of the Badgers offense by the midway point of his freshman season.
The first half had an all too familiar theme for Wisconsin football, but the Badgers are tied with the Boilermakers at halftime and a key Big Ten win remains in reach. Here's what stood out before halftime.
The losing streak extended back to 2019, when the then-ranked No. 13 Badgers beat No. 9 Minnesota to close the regular season before losing the Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl.
Thoughts on Logan Bruss' return at right tackle, the interior offensive line play for the Badgers and some credit for a clutch special teams performer.
The best player on the Iowa football team’s offense touches the ball every play, but doesn’t have a passing, rushing or receiving yard to show for it. The Badgers can't allow Tyler Linderbaum to take their best defenders out of plays.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin break down the Badgers' matchup with No. 9 Iowa, what Kayden Lyles' transfer means for the program and make Big Ten picks.
As part of the NFF’s National Scholar-Athlete class, Henningsen earns an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship that could become $25,000 if he's chosen as the William V. Campbell Trophy winner.
Turnovers are all but guaranteed to be a deciding component of the Badgers' game against No. 9 Iowa, which has feasted on opponents' turnovers this season.
Collin Wilder's journey with the Wisconsin football program from walk-on transfer to scholarship starter hasn't been typical. Neither has his impact this season.
His playing time this season has been reduced, with Pro Football Focus crediting him with 32 total defensive snaps and none since the Illinois game on Oct. 9.
Praise for a player developing a deeper skillset, a position group improving a weakness and the coaching staff mixing things up are included in this week's observations.
In this week's UW recruits recap: Seagreaves stepped up in a second-round win, while Edgewood's Jackson Trudgeon and Franklin's Myles Burkett were among those to see their seasons extended.
The UW running game got a significant boost when senior right tackle Logan Bruss returned from injury. Here's why he's so important to the Badgers' offense.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin break down Badgers’ players and coaches’ thoughts on the rash of transfers, discuss the Rutgers matchup and make Big Ten picks.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin break down Badgers’ players and coaches’ thoughts on the rash of transfers, discuss the Rutgers matchup and make Big Ten picks.
Badgers sophomore linebacker Nick Herbig has six sacks this season, a testament to his fiery competitiveness and offseason work with his brother and other NFL players at "The Bro Barn."
In this week's UW recruits recap: Burkett tossed for three touchdowns, and J.T. Seagreaves and Isaac Hamm also saw their teams punch tickets to the final four.
A rewatch of the game revealed a passing concept that fans should keep an eye on, a weakness of a veteran player and a glimpse into the future of the program in the fourth quarter.
Freshman tailback Braelon Allen already has a significant role for the offense, but roommate Hunter Wohler is starting to push for more playing time on defense.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin discuss how the Badgers should handle the RB spot after Chez Mellusi's injury, the Northwestern matchup, and make Big Ten picks.
A look at the Wildcats’ wide receivers, rushing defense issues and three other things to know about Northwestern football before it meets the Badgers on Saturday.
Improved technique at the line of scrimmage is getting Wisconsin receiver Danny Davis open on Saturdays and knowledge it's his last season is giving him confidence off the field.
The Badgers got another good performance from Graham Mertz and the defense delivered again. Here’s what stood out the most from the win over Northwestern.
Wisconsin football players and coaches aren't looking past Nebraska this week, but that doesn't mean we can't make some bowl projections. Here are the most likely destinations for the Badgers.
More than 20,000 Wisconsin football tickets went unscanned last week, and several factors are expected to lead to a smaller crowd this week against Nebraska.
State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew and columnist Jim Polzin break down the Badgers' matchup with Nebraska, share their thoughts on the best moments of UW's six super seniors' careers, and make Big Ten picks.
Discussed in this week's review: The Badgers' offensive line is adding more variety to its scheme, the outside linebackers did their jobs without making a lot of noise and no, Jim Leonhard's defense was not exposed.
The future Badgers QB closed out his season on top. WR Tommy McIntosh had two more touchdowns. And another key target, Sun Prairie's Isaac Hamm, sacked Burkett on Friday.
UW has never had a player win the Butkus Award, given to the nation's best linebacker, but junior Leo Chenal is among the six finalists for this season's trophy.
Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has a knack for identifying small tendencies that he can exploit. His ability to break down them for his players has led to some special performances. Here's a look at how he does it.
Badgers freshman running back Braelon Allen already has a plan for what he wants to do with his brand, a deal with Iron Joc sportswear and a UW alum for an agent.
Aidan Vaughan has been a late-riser on the recruiting trail, with all of his Power Five offers coming since October, but he has potential to be an inside or outside linebacker for the Badgers.
Whether it's speaking to the Badgers in the hotel the night before games or beating opponents' double teams, Jake Ferguson is becoming a more complete leader and player.
State playoffs are winding down across the country. But a couple of incoming Wisconsin players still had big games, including a recruit from Pennsylvania and two incoming receivers.
Reasons for the Badgers' poor rushing attack, special teams issues and accuracy struggles from Graham Mertz are included in this week's rewatch of the Badgers.
Schrauth is a four-star recruit who has been leaning toward Notre Dame since visits this summer. He announced his decision to pass on the Badgers and instead play for the Fighting Irish.
Badgers senior safety Collin Wilder won't be able to play against Arizona State later this month and finishes his UW career with 81 tackles and 16 passes defended.
When UW football recruits put pen to paper Wednesday and lock in their commitment to the program, the Badgers coaching staff will be more responsible for those players’ decisions than ever.
