Wisconsin class of 2021 signee S Braelon Allen discusses possibly moving to ILB this fall

Wisconsin football’s class of 2021 finished at No. 15 in the country and in all likelihood will go down as the best class in program

Wisconsin football’s class of 2021 finished at No. 15 in the country and in all likelihood will go down as the best class in program history.

Now, heading into spring and summer ball, Badger fans get to see the class finally take the field as early enrollees and the rest of the group file onto campus.

One of the best prospects of the group is four-star ILB/S Braelon Allen, finishing the recruiting process ranked No. 216 in the country and No. 3 in the state of Wisconsin.

Initial projections saw the talented recruit playing safety alongside Hunter Wohler for the Badgers, though a recent postgame interview could signal a change in that logic.

Here is Allen talking to NBC 26 reporter Rachel Hopmayer after his game on Thursday:

“It’s all about getting this film out from the season,” Allen said. “To get a better gauge on where I fit best in [Wisconsin’s] defense. It’s been safety for the longest time, but right now I think they’re starting to think that I’ll move to inside linebacker.”

When asked about what he feels about the possible move, Allen said “I just want to play. Wherever I can get on the field the fastest and make the biggest impact for my team.”

The Fond Du Lac High School standout is yet to arrive in Madison. When he does, where the program has him play is worth watching.

But no matter whether it’s at safety or inside linebacker, his instant impact potential is undeniable.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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ESPN names the Wisconsin class of 2021 signee with the most potential

The Wisconsin football program will begin spring practice Tuesday, March 30. The date turns the page to the 2021 football season

The Wisconsin football program will begin spring practice Tuesday, March 30.

The date turns the page to the 2021 football season, the team beginning offseason work without departed seniors and with some early enrollees in the incoming recruiting class.

During this time last year, college sports were all on hold, a pause that showed during Wisconsin’s 2020 campaign. A full offseason is critical to the success of this program, especially with an underclassman in Graham Mertz under center, and Tuesday marks the real start of that offseason process.

In light of spring practices beginning across the country, ESPN put together the commits with the most potential from its top 25 teams in the 2021 recruiting class.

At No. 16: Wisconsin signee Nolan Rucci.

Here’s what the ESPN piece had to say:

“Big, hulking offensive linemen are synonymous with Wisconsin, right? The Badgers signed three ESPN 300 offensive linemen in the 2021 class, and Rucci was ranked the highest at No. 36 overall. He’s a 6-foot-7, 290-pound tackle out of Lititz, Pennsylvania, and fits exactly the mold of what a Wisconsin offensive lineman looks like. He had some of the biggest programs in the country after him, and while he has some things to polish up early on in his college career, he has a chance to continue the success Wisconsin has seen along the line throughout his career.

Scouting report: Rucci brings a lot of the physical tools to develop into an outstanding college tackle. He’s tall, he possesses ideal length and is also a flexible big man that can play with leverage. He is effective with his hands with good feet and toughness. With his big frame, Rucci still has nice upside with room to physically develop and should benefit from time in the Badgers’ weight program. — Haubert”

With former five-star OT Logan Brown set to battle for a job this year and Rucci about to enter the program, Wisconsin’s future at tackle looks about as bright as it ever has.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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Wisconsin flips an in-state preferred walk-on from Virginia, adds him to their class of 2021

The Wisconsin football program isn’t done adding players for next year quite yet as even though their class of 2021 seems to be complete

The Wisconsin football program isn’t done adding players for next year quite yet as even though their class of 2021 seems to be complete, there are some preferred walk-ons still walking in the door.

Today that continued as Wisconsin flipped Hartland, Wisconsin native PWO Owen Arnett from Virginia.

Arnett is unranked on Rivals.com and did not receive a Power Five offer, though staying home in Wisconsin proved to be enough after he previously accepted a PWO offer from Virginia.

Related: A look at Wisconsin football’s ‘top targets’ in the class of 2022

He now will join the Badgers along with the program’s highest-ranked recruiting class of all time and look to help the team win their first Big Ten title since 2012.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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Wisconsin class of 2021 signee named Minnesota’s Mr. Football for 2020

Wisconsin Badger fans should be counting the days until the program’s class of 2021, the highest-rated in program history, steps foot on

Wisconsin Badger fans should be counting the days until the program’s class of 2021, the highest-rated in program history, steps foot on campus in the coming months.

If you need any more of a reason to be excited about what is to come this fall and in the coming years, or want an opportunity to shut down the Minnesota football program, you have that opportunity as Wisconsin class of 2021 signee Jake Ratzlaff was named Minnesota’s “Mr. Football” for 2020.

The outside linebacker is ranked by 247Sports as 2021’s No. 5 player from Minnesota, though as can be seen below, his accolades may surpass that rank.

The Minnesota—Wisconsin Badger pipeline is stronger than you may expect, with the Badgers boasting the Gopher state’s No. 1 and No. 5 recruit in the 2021 class. And in the star-studded class that the Badgers are welcoming this fall, Ratzlaff has a chance to make an impact right from the jump.

The future is looking bright in Badgerland, and this news coming from a rival state makes it look even brighter.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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Where every Big Ten team falls in the post-NSD 247Sports composite rankings for the class of 2021

The Wisconsin Badgers’ recruiting class of 2021 is arguably the best in program history and has the program’s outlook only improving

The class of 2021 recruiting cycle has all but reached its end with yesterday’s National Signing Day marking the final big signings of the 2021 class.

Players are still free to sign with schools, though at this point in the process most schools have filled their classes and moved to work on the 2022 class.

Here at BadgersWire we’ve written extensively about the Wisconsin Badgers’ class of 2021, a class that is arguably the best in program history and has the program’s outlook only improving heading into the 2021 football season.

The class, which is ranked No. 15 in the country, can be compared against the Alabamas, Clemsons, Floridas and Georgias of the world as much as people want, though what really matters is where they fall in the ranking of Big Ten teams.

As a teaser to what may follow below, take a look at this map of which schools dominated each state’s recruiting during the 2021 cycle.

Yes, you would correctly notice that the Badgers had their way in the state of Minnesota this year.

So, here is where every Big Ten team falls in 247Sports’ post-National Signing Day composite recruiting rankings:

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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Check out newest Notre Dame football players arrive on campus

This weekend was huge for incoming Notre Dame football early enrolling football players, they have arrived on campus.

This weekend was a big one for incoming Notre Dame football members of the 2021 class. They have finally arrived on campus and will begin their Irish football journeys. Take a look at some of the fresh as they make it to their dorms.

 

2021 Wisconsin Football Preview: Early breakout players, true freshmen to watch

The Wisconsin Badgers’ 2020 football season saw sophomore ILB Leo Chenal, freshman RB Jalen Berger, freshman OLB Nick Herbig and others…

The Wisconsin Badgers’ 2020 football season saw sophomore ILB Leo Chenal, freshman RB Jalen Berger, freshman OLB Nick Herbig and others break onto the scene and make their names known.

The team would not have had the same success without these guys and what they did on the field, as Chenal and Herbig were two of the driving forces on defense and Berger was far-and-away the best option in the backfield.

Going into any season there will be hype given to certain players and positions, hype which I expect the three names above to receive as well as QB Graham Mertz, WR Chimere Dike and NT Keeanu Benton.

Related: The Badgers’ projected 2021 depth chart on offense, defense

But aside from the names that every Badger fan knows and players that we know will take a step forward, who else should you watch and keep on your radar?

I set out to answer that question in this week’s edition of way-too-early breakout players and freshmen to watch for the 2021 football season.

For 2020 season review:

LOOK: Former Badger F Sam Dekker reacts to Wisconsin landing three-star PF Markus Ilver

The Wisconsin Badgers landed a class of 2021 commitment yesterday from three-star power forward Markus Ilver. Former Badger Sam Dekker

The Wisconsin Badgers landed a semi-surprise class of 2021 commitment yesterday from three-star power forward Markus Ilver, the No. 42-ranked power forward in the class and the No. 6 player from the state of Ohio.

Ilver, an Estonia native, plays his high school basketball at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio and now joins PG Chucky Hepburn and forwards Matthew Mors and Chris Hodges in Wisconsin basketball’s class of 2021.

Related: Everything Wisconsin HC Greg Gard said after yesterday’s blowout loss at Michigan

After his commitment moved the class to No. 32 in the nation and No. 4 in the Big Ten, former Wisconsin star forward Sam Dekker took to Twitter to congratulate Ilver and explain what kind of player Wisconsin is getting.

Site editor Asher Low ran through a brief scouting report of the Badgers’ new member of the class of 2021 yesterday.

“Standing at 6-foot-8, he is known for his ability to stretch the floor with his shooting, but has the ability to attack the closeout with high-level athleticism. His lightning fast release will immediately translate at the next level.”

Here is a look at Ilver’s shooting from this past year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjOG84eOgTk&feature=emb_title

Georgia Bulldogs sign 4-star DB David Daniel

The Georgia football program landed another massive signing in four-star Woodstock High School defensive back David Daniel.

The Georgia football program and head coach Kirby Smart landed another massive signing in defensive back David Daniel.

Daniel is a four-star recruit out of Woodstock High School, which is located south of Atlanta. At six-foot-two and 185 pounds, the UGA signee ranks No. 92 in the nation, No. 3 at his position and No. 10 in the state of Georgia.

Daniel picked the Bulldogs over elite college football programs like Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Notre Dame.

Georgia will need a playmaker like Daniel to make up for the defensive backs who are headed to the NFL following the 2020 season. Additionally, Daniel will help fill the void in the 2021 recruiting class left when De’Jahn Warren flipped to Jackson State.

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Wisconsin recruiting: Times to know for early signing period

Many members of the Wisconsin Badgers’ class of 2021 will announce or broadcast their signings at a set time later today.

Today marks the start of early signing period in college football, a time where players who have committed to a school are able to sign their letter of intent and officially join the program.

There have already been eight Wisconsin Badger commits that have signed their letters, the most notable ones being five-star offensive tackle Nolan Rucci, four-star defensive end T.J. Bollers, four-star offensive tackle Riley Mahlman and four-star tight end Jack Pugh.

The signings will be announced throughout the day and you can follow live updates on who signs their letter at our live signing day tracker.

There are some commits, though, that announced a time later today when they will broadcast putting the pen to paper.

Here are times to know for the early signing period:

  • WR Markus Allen will broadcast his signing at 6:00 p.m.

  • DE Ayo Adebogun will be signing his letter at 1:30 p.m.
  • DE T.J. Bollers will sign at noon

 

Fab Four: Selecting Wisconsin football’s Mount Rushmore of all-time recruits