Get to know the Wisconsin Badgers' 2021 football recruiting class
COLTEN BARTHOLOMEW
Updated
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 2021 season.
With 19 commitments, the Badgers' class ranks No. 13 nationally on Rivals, No. 15 on 247Sports and No. 17 on ESPN.
JP BENZSCHAWEL
JP Benzschawel, an offensive lineman out of Grafton, was the first recruit in the Badgers’ 2021 class, continuing the family tradition at UW.
Benzschawel’s brothers, Beau (2015-18) and Luke (2016-19) played offensive line and tight end, respectively, for the Badgers. His father, Scott (1983-87) and uncle Eric (1988-92) also played football for UW.
Jackson Acker, a running back from Verona, committed to the Badgers soon after receiving an offer in June 2019.
UW was Acker’s first scholarship offer after his sophomore season, but he used it as momentum for a strong junior campaign at Verona High School. He was a first-team running back on the Wisconsin State Journal’s All-Area team, rushing for 929 yards and 11 touchdowns in eight games.
Deacon Hill, a quarterback from Santa Barbara, Calif., committed to the Badgers in July 2019.
A 6-foot-4, 225-pound, pro-style prospect, Hill was part of wave of recruiting commitments for UW. Hill turned down offers from Kansas State and Nevada in favor of the Badgers.
Loyal Crawford, a running back from Eau Claire, Wis., committed to the Badgers in August 2019.
A fast, shifty and explosive back, Crawford was limited to five games as a junior due to injury. Still, he tallied 671 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in that span. He was one of the first freshmen to suit up for a varsity game at Eau Claire Memorial High School.
Riley Mahlman, an offensive lineman from Lakeville, Minn., committed to the Badgers after watching them defeat Michigan at Camp Randall Stadium in September 2019.
Mahlman is ranked as a four-star prospect by 247sports and ESPN, and a three-star by Rivals. He’s ranked as the top recruit in the state of Minnesota by 247sports and ESPN, and the No. 2 Minnesota product by Rivals. UW beat out Ohio State, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan State, Florida and others for Mahlman.
Ayo Adebogun, a linebacker/defensive end hailing from Mequon, committed to the Badgers in December 2019.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder was a second-team all-state selection by the Wisconsin Associated Press as a junior, a season in which he tallied 16 sacks and 75 total tackles.
Hunter Wohler, a safety out of Muskego, orally committed to UW just before Christmas 2019.
Rated by multiple recruiting sites as the best or second-best prospect in Wisconsin in his class, Wohler helped Muskego to an unbeaten record and a WIAA Division I state championship as a junior. Wohler had 122 total tackles and two interceptions as a junior, and he was named the state’s Associated Press' player of the year.
Jack Pugh, a tight end out of Hilliard, Ohio, announced his commitment to the Badgers in late May
Pugh — ranked a four-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN, and a three-star prospect by rivals — is ranked in the top 12 of tight ends in his class. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound prospect had scholarship offers from more than 20 programs, including a majority of the Big Ten Conference schools.
Peterson, a three-star outside linebacker/defensive end from Akron, Ohio, committed to UW on June 1, 2020.
He was one of the Badgers’ top targets on defense since the spring of 2019. He tallied 21 sacks in his junior season at Archbishop Hoban, and chose the Badgers over offers from Alabama, Michigan, West Virginia and more.
Mike Jarvis, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound lineman out of Medford, N.J., announced his commitment to the Badgers on June 3, 2020.
A three-star prospect on 247Sports and a two-star per Rivals, Jarvis has potential to play as a defensive or offensive lineman, although he’s been primarily recruited for his ability on defense.
Outside linebacker/defensive end TJ Bollers added to a hot recruiting streak for the Badgers when he committed in June 2020.
Rated a four-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals, Bollers held offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State and most of the Big Ten. He narrowed his choices to Alabama, California, Iowa State, Nebraska, Northwestern and UW before making his decision..
Hallman, a 6-foot cornerback out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., tweeted his commitment to the Badgers in late June 2020.
Hallman, ranked a four-star prospect by Rivals and a three-star by 247Sports and ESPN, had offers from at least 16 Football Bowl Subdivision programs, including Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Miami, Florida and Florida State.
Skyler Bell — a 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect out of Watertown, Conn. — had upwards of 18 scholarship offers, including other Big Ten programs like Iowa, Rutgers, and Northwestern before deciding on UW.
Bell is the first receiver to join the class, announcing his commitment in August, but the Badgers are expecting to add more.
From The Bronx to Madison, Wisconsin!! Madison the Juice is loose!! 5️⃣ Let’s ROCK and Win some championships!!!✊🏾I’m committed to The University of Wisconsin👐🏽 #OnWisconsin#GoBadgers
All Love,
Juice pic.twitter.com/XaRiKhQKwT
Nolan Rucci, a five-star tackle, poses during a recruiting visit to Wisconsin.
UW won an intense recruiting battle for Rucci, whose older brother Hayden is a Badgers tight end. Rucci held offers from nearly every top program in the country, but had narrowed his list to Clemson, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and UW before announcing in early September.
Rucci is a five-star prospect and the No. 16 overall recruit in the country per 247Sports, while Rivals tabs him No. 29 and ESPN ranks him 33rd; Rivals and ESPN list him as a four-star recruit.
Al Ashford III was a surprise pick up for the Badgers when he committed in early September. Ashford III’s commitment came seemingly out of nowhere, as he didn’t publicly announce a scholarship offer from UW prior to choosing the school.
Ashford III is listed as a three-star recruit on both 247Sports and Rivals, and is the top-rated cornerback in Colorado per 247Sports. He’s listed at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds.
Fond du Lac prospect Braelon Allen kicked off the Badgers' 2022 class with a bang when he committed in July 2020. But he reclassified to the 2021 class in September, giving the class its seventh four-star-or-better recruit in the 2021 class.
Allen — listed at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds — has been recruited as a safety, the position he’s played for Fond Du Lac, but 247Sports now lists him as an inside linebacker. Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Allen is the No. 6 inside linebacker in the 2021 class.
Nate Van Zelst joined the 2021 class the day before February's signing day.
A five-star kicker per Kohl's Kicking, the Wilmette, Illinois, product is the first specialist to join the class. Van Zelst had a long field goal of 49 yards as a junior, but wasn't able to play a senior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grover Bortolotti joined the last in mid-February 2021 as a walk-on.
Bortolotti played running back and defensive back at Whitefish Bay, which went 7-0 his senior season. He's listed as an athlete by Rivals, so he could play safety or move to a different role once camp begins.
Arrowhead High School product Owen Arnett joined the class in early March as a preferred walk-on.
Arnett originally committed to Virginia in November, but decided to stay closer to home and play at UW. The 6-foot, 200-pound prospect projects as a linebacker.
After talking with my family, I’ve had a slight change of plans and I have decided to stay home and take a PWO to Wisconsin! Thank you to all the coaches throughout the recruiting process. #OnWisconsinpic.twitter.com/EhSKFeaSU1
The conference decided — after meetings between presidents and athletic directors, and outcry from players, coaches, politicians and fans — to cancel the fall sports season and will attempt to move football to the spring semester.
A campus release announced the news Wednesday, a reversal of plans last week in which in-person attendance was to be capped at around 1,500 parents and essential personnel.
In what could be his last season as a Badger, tight end Jake Ferguson looks to be a bigger part of UW's passing game after playing nearly every snap at tight end last season.
The No. 13 Badgers finally get back on the field Saturday night after a COVID-19 outbreak within the program canceled two games and shut down in-person activities for more than a week.
Graham Mertz was on the field and looks to be available to be under center for No. 13 UW (1-0) as it takes on the Wolverines (1-2) in a highly anticipated Big Ten Conference matchup.
Big Ten football teams are sorting themselves out, making a clearer picture of who is pushing for a spot in the championship game. And four games in, we can safely say Northwestern and Indiana are legit.
Tone matters, especially to Jim Harbaugh, who sounded shell-shocked late Saturday night after his Wolverines lost, 49-11, to Wisconsin, but sounded ready to take on the world by noon Monday.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin discuss the No. 10 Badgers' game at Northwestern, the coaching matchup between the staffs and make Big Ten picks.
Shannon Ryan has covered Northwestern, Illinois and college football and basketball for the Chicago Tribune since 2007. She gives her thoughts on how the No. 10 Badgers match up with No. 19 Northwestern this weekend.
In a showdown for control of the Big Ten West Division, No. 10 Wisconsin (2-0) and No. 19 Northwestern (4-0) will feature the top two defenses in the conference and among the two best nationally.
Minnesota, which is slated to visit Camp Randall Stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday, canceled Tuesday’s schedule practice and is holding all meetings virtually due to positive antigen tests within the program Monday.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin are back to break down the Gophers canceling the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
Rachad Wildgoose, a junior from Miami, Florida, tweeted an image thanking the Badgers’ coaches and fans, and others before stating he was declaring for the draft.
“It was definitely an odd week, but the guys handled it great, had a couple guys get back healthy and get their legs back under them," redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz said of the Badgers' unexpected bye week.
Active COVID-19 cases continue to rise within certain programs, potentially playing a significant role in determining the Big Ten Conference championship.
Jack Tuttle, who was a four-star recruit, received scholarship offers from Alabama, LSU, Southern Cal and Wisconsin, among others, chose Utah, then transferred to Indiana after one semester with the Utes.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together on Zoom and break down the Badgers' football game against Indiana this weekend.
“I like this group to go out there and make a statement versus a very good group,” junior cornerback Faion Hicks said. “Like I said, we look forward to the challenge, it’s going to be fun.”
The priority is the exposure and financial benefit of having a team in the College Football Playoff. Getting the Buckeyes more games and a conference championship shot are the surest ways to do it.
The Badgers athletic director also weighed in on the possibility of a Border Battle next week and aired some complaints on officiating during his radio show.
"Every day he comes and there’s positive energy to him. Truly a great teammate; he’s been a blast to be around. You appreciate every day you’re with him," UW coach Paul Chryst said of Isaiahh Loudermilk.
No. 25 Wisconsin managed just one scoring drive in a 28-7 loss at No. 19 Iowa on Saturday, continuing a troubling trend of subpar offensive showings that have resulted in 20 combined points over the past three games.
"We have a one-game championship season against Wisconsin, a major rival," Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said. "It's so exciting to end the year, a very difficult year."
Badgers' five-star recruit Nolan Rucci discusses what drew him to the Badgers, growing up surrounded by coaches, and playing with his brother Hayden again.
UW's director of player personnel discusses recruiting during a pandemic, landing prospects who’d never set foot on campus, and the program bringing in it's highest-ranked class ever.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together over Zoom to break down the news surrounding the Badgers football and basketball programs.
It took a gutty, full-team performance and an overtime period to get the job done but the Badgers bounced back from three consecutive losses to post a 20-17 win over visiting Minnesota on Saturday at Camp Randall.
Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst said he appreciated senior quarterback Jack Coan's leadership, but didn't get into specifics on why Coan chose to transfer.
Dave Clawson, who was nearing the end of his fourth season at Bowling Green, was among a handful of candidates who were interviewed before Barry Alvarez eventually settled on Utah State’s Gary Andersen to succeed Bret Bielema.
Making the largest comeback in UW bowl history to win the Duke's Mayo Bowl pushes UW to its 19th consecutive winning season and gives Paul Chryst a 5-1 record in bowl games as the Badgers’ head coach.
Senior cornerback Caesar Williams announced Sunday night he was returning to the Badgers’ football program instead of making the jump to the NFL, which gives UW eight starters returning on defense.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together on Zoom to break down the latest news around the Badgers’ men’s basketball and football programs.
Myles Burkett — a consensus three-star, dual-threat quarterback — held offers from a handful of Group of Five teams and UW was his lone Power Five offer to this point.
“It was me choosing UW,” Jim Leonhard told the State Journal Saturday morning. “I want to stay at UW. I want to be at this level right now. Extremely flattered. Awesome opportunity. But it was not the right time for me to go back to the NFL.”
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together over Zoom to break down the latest news around the Badgers men’s basketball and football teams.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew, Jim Polzin and Todd Milewski get together over Zoom to discuss Badgers’ men’s basketball and both hockey programs as they head toward tournament time.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together over Zoom to break down the news surrounding Badgers men’s basketball and football.
“Honestly, a lot went into my decision. If I would have finished the season, I would have still left after my junior season,” Rachad Wildgoose told reporters Wednesday at UW’s Pro Day.
Former UW tackle Cole Van Lanen said he’s spoken with teams about playing guard or even center, positions where his wingspan isn’t as important and he can use his power and run-blocking ability.
Losing running backs coach John Settle continues an offseason of upheaval on the Badgers’ staff, which has lost three assistants since winning the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Dec. 30.
Final details regarding the foundation’s scholarships are still being ironed out, but one will be for a student wanting to attend the University of Wisconsin.
Packages for all seven home games start at $378 per ticket and will be limited at first to donors and those who ordered 2020 season ticket packages but weren’t able to use them due to the pandemic.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew, Jim Polzin and Todd Milewski get together over Zoom to discuss the news around the Badgers men’s basketball and men’s and women’s hockey programs.
“(Jim Leonhard) painted me a really clear picture of what I'll be doing in his defense, what he saw for me,” Townsend said. “His career and what he's known for doing and developing players, that was a big deal to me.
Bortolini, recruited as a guard and preparing this week just in case of emergency, was thrown into the fire at center after Kayden Lyles left the field on a cart.
UW redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz said after the team’s 14-6 loss at Camp Randall Stadium that Indiana had deciphered the Badgers’ calls, meaning the Hoosiers knew when certain plays were coming.
The loss, coming on the heels of a defeat at Northwestern two weeks ago, has taken UW from dreaming of a national championship to a point where it now must scramble just to finish with a winning record.
State Journal reporter Jim Polzin grades the UW football team's performance in its 42-28 victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte.
After UW's victory over Wake Forest, the postgame party quickly turned into a mess after redshirt freshman QB Graham Mertz dropped UW's latest trophy on the ground, shattering it into hundreds of pieces.
It was an up-and-down first campaign as a starter for the redshirt freshman in terms of his production, but one thing that never wavered was Mertz’s enthusiasm for the game.
Chandler, who graduated from a high school that's less than a 30-minute drive from Bank of America Stadium, returned a kickoff 59 yards to set up a scoring drive in UW's victory over Wake Forest in the Duke's Mayo Bowl.
