The University of Wisconsin football currently holds 12 scholarship commits for its class of 2023. Meet some of these future Badgers in our new series.
Meet RB Jaquez Keyes, Wisconsin football's fourth commitment of 2023 class
IRONTON, Ohio — An ambush of Tigers have dominated football fields near the southernmost point of the Buckeye State, less than a mile from the Ohio River and Kentucky border, since mid-August.
Jaquez Keyes and the Ironton football program continued their undefeated season, mauling Chesapeake during a 62-0 home win Friday night. All of the program’s points came during an onslaught in the first half, and Keyes, one of Ironton's standout backs, gashed the foes for three touchdowns that resulted in the lopsided victory.
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The State Journal spoke with 2023 running back commit Jaquez Keyes after Ironton's 62-0 win Friday night about his three first half touchdowns, his relationship with Badgers running backs coach Al Johnson, and if offers after his commitment influenced him.
Meet Roderick 'Trey' Pierce III, Wisconsin football's fifth commit of 2023 class
Wisconsin 2023 verbal commit Roderick 'Trey' Pierce III discusses Brother Rice's huge double-overtime victory against Joliet Catholic on Friday night, along with his abilities as a defensive lineman and talks with Badgers assistant Ross Kolodziej.
JAKE KOCOROWSKI
JOLIET, Ill. — Roderick “Trey” Pierce III received some significant company Friday evening during a key matchup pitting Brother Rice High School against Joliet Catholic Academy.
University of Wisconsin defensive line coach Ross Kolodziej traveled to Joliet Memorial Stadium to take in the first half of the Crusaders’ 31-24 double overtime win over the Hilltoppers and watch Pierce, one of the verbal commits for the 2023 class. Though he did not chat with the assistant, the gesture did not go unnoticed after the dismissal of Paul Chryst as Badgers’ football coach.
Wisconsin 2023 verbal commit Roderick 'Trey' Pierce III lines up for Brother Rice High School against Joliet Catholic Oct. 7 at Joliet Memorial Stadium in Joliet, Illinois.
See who's in Wisconsin football's 2023 recruiting class
Tyler Jansey — Batavia (Illinois)
COURTESY OF CEDRIC JONES, CEDJAY PHOTOGRAPHY
Consensus three-star linebacker Tyler Jansey became the first member of the Badgers’ 2023 recruiting class when he announced his commitment on Jan. 28.
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound inside linebacker ranks as the 10th-best player in his class in Illinois, per Rivals. He had 36 tackles and 5½ sacks in a six-game season as a sophomore and followed that up with 88 tackles and 16 tackles for loss in 11 games as a junior, according to MaxPreps. Jansey chose UW over offers from Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and others.
James Durand became the first offensive lineman in the 2023 class when he committed on May 6.
The Chandler, Arizona, product is a 6-foot-6, 285-pound tackle/guard who had a number of offers. Arizona, BYU, California, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa State, Oregon State and Utah were among his suitors. Durand visited UW in late March and received his offer that weekend.
Consensus three-star defensive back Justin Taylor became the first member of the secondary to join the class when he verbally committed on May 13.
Taylor is a 6-foot, 185-pound athlete who could play cornerback or safety at the next level. He held offers to Kansas State, Army, Air Force and others before committing to UW. The Nazareth Academy (La Grange Park, Illinois) product is a native of Broadview, Illinois.
The Badgers dipped into the talent-rich state of Ohio for talented running back Jaquez Keyes. Keyes is a four-star prospect according to Rivals, but a three-star in 247Sports’ rankings.
Roderick 'Trey' Pierce III — Brother Rice (Illinois)
UW's recruiting success in Illinois continued with the commitment of three-star defensive lineman Trey Pierce. Pierce joined the class on May 19.
Pierce is listed at 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds and his recruitment was heating up when he committed to UW. He held offers from Iowa State, Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue and others. His highlight tapes show good upper-body strength and the ability to stay low and not get moved off his spot.
Nate White — Milwaukee Rufus King
Three-star tailback Nate White from Milwaukee Rufus King became the sixth recruit in the 2023 class when he announced his decision in late May.
UW added long and strong outside linebacker Jordan Mayer to the recruiting class on June 12.
Mayer, a three-star prospect listed at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, played defensive end in high school but will join the Badgers' outside linebacker room. The former Boston College commit was choosing between UW, Cincinnati, West Virginia and Virginia Tech. Mayer hails from Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania.
Three-star athlete Collin Dixon had chances to play wide receiver and safety in college, but chose to join UW's wide receiver room.
The Tallmadge, Ohio, product had almost 1,500 receiving yards as a junior and had offers from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Purdue and others. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound receiver committed June 13, a day after his official visit to UW.
UW defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard and cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat dipped into Texas to secure a commitment from rising cornerback prospect A.J. Tisdell.
The College Station native is a three-star recruit according to Rivals and he held offers from Baylor, California, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt and others before choosing UW. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, Tisdell shows fluidity in his hips and strong hands at the point of attack.
Three-star receiver prospect Trech Kekahuna added another member to the Hawaii to UW pipeline when he verbally committed on June 19.
Kekahuna, listed at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, attended Saint Louis High School in Honolulu, the same program that produced UW outside linebacker Nick Herbig. Kekahuna is slated to play his senior season at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas.
The Badgers pulled four-star cornerback Jace Arnold out of Georgia to secure their 11th commitment of the class on June 22.
Arnold, a 5-foot-11, 184-pound prospect from Marietta, had offers from Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisville, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt, among others.
UW landed a fifth recruit out of Illinois when Chris Terek (Glen Ellyn, Illinois) committed on June 29.
Terek is a 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive lineman who is most likely to fit at tackle in the Badgers system. The Glenbard West High School product picked the Badgers over offers from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and others.
Three-star defensive back Jonas Duclona became the first recruit of the Luke Fickell era to commit to UW. He was originally committed to Fickell and his staff at Cincinnati, but chose to follow them to UW.
He had more than 30 scholarship offers out of high school. Duclona, listed at 6 foot and 170 pounds on his Hudl profile, is slated to play in the 2023 All-American Bowl in January.
UW finally landed a tight end in the 2023 class when Tucker Ashcraft made his commitment to the Badgers.
Ashcraft was originally committed to Colorado, but reopened his recruitment after a coaching change for the Buffs. The three-star prospect is listed at 6 foot 5 and 235 pounds.
Three-star defensive back Jonas Duclona became the first recruit of the Luke Fickell era to commit to UW. He was originally committed to Fickell and his staff at Cincinnati, but chose to follow them to UW.
He had more than 30 scholarship offers out of high school. Duclona, listed at 6 foot and 170 pounds on his Hudl profile, is slated to play in the 2023 All-American Bowl in January.
UW finally landed a tight end in the 2023 class when Tucker Ashcraft made his commitment to the Badgers.
Ashcraft was originally committed to Colorado, but reopened his recruitment after a coaching change for the Buffs. The three-star prospect is listed at 6 foot 5 and 235 pounds.
The Badgers landed another former Cincinnati commit in four-star defensive back Amare Snowden on signing day.
Snowden was considering UW before he verbally committed to the Bearcats, but opened his recruiting after Luke Fickell became the Badgers coach. He signed with UW on Dec. 21. He is rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and a three-star by Rivals.
The Badgers finalized their recruiting class on Feb. 1, 2023 when defensive tackle Jamel Howard Jr. pledged to re-join the program. Howard was committed to UW under coach Paul Chryst, but decommitted after Chryst's firing. He was one of the top targets of new coach Luke Fickell and the Badgers held off offers from Illinois, LSU, Miami (Fla.) and Michigan to secure Howard's commitment.
Howard is listed at 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, and could help fill the void at nose guard left by Keeanu Benton. He was a consensus three-star recruit.
Here's a look at the University of Wisconsin football program's 2023 recruiting class. With 15 commitments, the Badgers rank 58th in the natio…
Tyler Jansey — Batavia (Illinois)
Consensus three-star linebacker Tyler Jansey became the first member of the Badgers’ 2023 recruiting class when he announced his commitment on Jan. 28.
UW added long and strong outside linebacker Jordan Mayer to the recruiting class on June 12.
Mayer, a three-star prospect listed at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, played defensive end in high school but will join the Badgers' outside linebacker room. The former Boston College commit was choosing between UW, Cincinnati, West Virginia and Virginia Tech. Mayer hails from Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania.
A.J. Tisdell — College Station (Texas)
UW defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard and cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat dipped into Texas to secure a commitment from rising cornerback prospect A.J. Tisdell.
Three-star defensive back Jonas Duclona became the first recruit of the Luke Fickell era to commit to UW. He was originally committed to Fickell and his staff at Cincinnati, but chose to follow them to UW.
He had more than 30 scholarship offers out of high school. Duclona, listed at 6 foot and 170 pounds on his Hudl profile, is slated to play in the 2023 All-American Bowl in January.
Braedyn Moore — Stephan T. Badin (Ohio)
A second Cincinnati commit flipped to the Badgers when Braedyn Moore picked UW.
The four-star safety is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 15 athlete in the class. He's listed by 247Sports at 6 foot 1½ and 190 pounds.
Tucker Ashcraft — O'Dea (Washington)
UW finally landed a tight end in the 2023 class when Tucker Ashcraft made his commitment to the Badgers.
Ashcraft was originally committed to Colorado, but reopened his recruitment after a coaching change for the Buffs. The three-star prospect is listed at 6 foot 5 and 235 pounds.
Christian Alliegro — Avon Old Farms School (Connecticut)
The Badgers picked up an intriuiging linebacker recruit out from a post-graduate school in Christian Alliegro.
The three-star prospect is listed at 6 foot 3 and 220 pounds, and he was a three-star lacrosse recruit as well.
The Badgers landed another former Cincinnati commit in four-star defensive back Amare Snowden on signing day.
Snowden was considering UW before he verbally committed to the Bearcats, but opened his recruiting after Luke Fickell became the Badgers coach. He signed with UW on Dec. 21. He is rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and a three-star by Rivals.
The Badgers finalized their recruiting class on Feb. 1, 2023 when defensive tackle Jamel Howard Jr. pledged to re-join the program. Howard was committed to UW under coach Paul Chryst, but decommitted after Chryst's firing. He was one of the top targets of new coach Luke Fickell and the Badgers held off offers from Illinois, LSU, Miami (Fla.) and Michigan to secure Howard's commitment.
Meet Jamel Howard Jr., Wisconsin football's 12th verbal commit of 2023 class
Wisconsin 2023 commit Jamel Howard Jr. talks to reporters Saturday about taking on future Badger, offensive lineman Chris Terek, his relationship with the UW coaching staff and defensive line coach Ross Kolodziej, and more after Marist's loss to Glenbard West.
The first time Marist High School football coach Ron Dawczak thought Jamel Howard Jr. could be a Division I athletes was, well, the first time he saw Howard, which was before he started high school.
“He was just a massive kid that was really powerful, but the thing that made him really stand out was his athleticism,” Dawczak recalled. “He was in eighth grade when I saw him. He probably weighed 260 pounds, and could move really, really well.
Justin Taylor wore some Wisconsin apparel during Nazareth Academy's big win over Benet Academy last week. The projected safety talks about where he sits with the Badgers and more.
The Badgers lost one of their two defensive line commits for the 2023 class as three-star prospect Jamel Howard Jr. from Illinois reopened his recruiting process.
