Wisconsin landed a commitment from class of 2025 specialist Erik Schmidt on Wednesday. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native will join the program as an in-state preferred walk-on.
Schmidt chooses the Badgers over walk-on interest from Notre Dame, Boston College and Michigan, plus over a scholarship offer from Missouri. Wisconsin’s current starting kicker Nathanial Vakos and punter Atticus Bertrams are both under scholarship, so it’s reasonable to assume Schmidt’s status could change if he wins a starting job in the coming years.
Related: Wisconsin’s class of 2025 slips in national ranking after string of bad news
The top-ranked specialist will join the Badgers after Kohl’s Kicking Camps listed him as a five-star specialist, specifically as the No. 8 kicker and No. 1 punter in the class of 2025.
Schmidt attended an official visit to Wisconsin on June 14, marking yet another official visit win for the program.
This commitment, albeit from a specialist, is a positive sign for the Badgers after the last seven days saw four-star CB Rukeem Stroud flip his commitment to UCF, top CB target Tre Poteat commit to Tennessee and top edge rusher target Jayden Woods commit to Penn State.
STAYING HOME 🦡🔴⚪️ @CoachFick @Coach_Mitch_ @CoachRaisbeck @_maximus347 @FootballMuhs @KohlsKicking pic.twitter.com/TjIhENukpY
— Erik (@Erik_Schmidt22) June 26, 2024
Wisconsin’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 15 in the nation with 21 players committed.
Focus now turns to the upcoming commitment announcements from top remaining targets four-star DL Kade Pietrzak, four-star RB Byron Louis and four-star iOL Hardy Watts.
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