Tag: commitment

BREAKING: Wisconsin lands commitment from 2025 OT Cam Clark

Wisconsin adds another class of 2025 commitment

Wisconsin football landed a commitment from class of 2025 offensive tackle Cam Clark on Thursday.

Clark is a three-star on 247Sports.com, ranked specifically as the No. 77 offensive tackle in the class and No. 24 recruit from his home state of Michigan.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

Wisconsin edges Kentucky to earn Clark’s commitment. Other programs on his offer sheet include Army, Kansas, Minnesota, Cincinnati, West Virginia and Duke.

Of note, the offensive tackle does have a visit to Kentucky scheduled on June 14.

Clark is the ninth commitment in Luke Fickell’s class of 2025 and second offensive tackle — joining three-star Michael Roeske. The group ranked No. 21 in the nation before his addition, so expect that ranking to rise with the group back up to nine players.

 

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Wisconsin Badgers top class of 2025 OL target announces commitment date

Look out for this commitment tomorrow evening:

Wisconsin top class of 2025 target OL Jack Lange will announce his college commitment on Wednesday, April 24 at 7 p.m. central, 8 p.m. eastern.

Lange is 247Sports’ No. 116 player in the class of 2025, No. 11 offensive tackle and No. 1 recruit from his home state of Missouri.

Related: An updated list of Wisconsin basketball’s transfer portal targets

Wisconsin was among the top tackle’s final schools in February along with Nebraska, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Michigan. 247Sports does not have any crystal ball predictions listed, but Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri and Nebraska are considered the favorites.

Lange is scheduled to officially visit the Badgers on May 31.

Wisconsin’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 21 in the nation with eight total commitments. The class has one offensive tackle committed — three-star Michael Roeske.

A commitment from Lange would be a first big recruiting win for Fickell and his staff in the class — that after finishing the 2024 cycle with an impressive group.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin football receives transfer commitment from SEC offensive tackle

Luke Fickell lands his first transfer of the spring window:

Wisconsin football just made its first splash in the spring transfer portal window.

It landed a commitment from former Vanderbilt offensive tackle Leyton Nelson.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

Nelson entered the transfer portal on April 16 after playing in 11 games for the Commodores in 2023. He follows former Vanderbilt offensive line coach A.J. Blazek to Madison — Blazek who the Badgers hired this offseason after re-assigning former OL coach Jack Bicknell after the 2023 season.

Nelson is 247Sports’ No. 652 player in the transfer portal and No. 39 offensive tackle. He was originally a three-star recruit in the class of 2022.

Nelson brings experience, but he will likely play a depth role along the offensive line with Wisconsin’s starting lineup mostly set. He has several years of eligibility remaining and could play himself into a starting role in 2025, while also serving as valuable depth this upcoming season.

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Michigan football finally gets a commitment in 2025

Got him over Alabama, Ohio State and others. #GoBlue

Michigan football hadn’t gotten a commitment in the 2025 class since Carter Smith pledged midseason in 2023. In fact, the Wolverines drought was more likely to see decommitments than commitments of late.

Finally, the maize and blue stemmed the bleeding and they did so in a big way.

The first pledge in the Sherrone Moore era, 2025 Fenwick (Illinois) Oak Park four-star defensive lineman Nathaniel Marshall had seen enough and decided to pull the trigger for Michigan football on Monday morning.

Rated the No. 35 player in the country, regardless of position, on the 247Sports composite, Marshall is the highest-rated pledge since Will Johnson in the 2021 class.

The scouting report from 247Sports’ Allen Trieu:

Has a background that includes basketball and offense, where he sometimes splits way out wide and can be effective playing from that spot. Carries that athleticism over to defense where he is comfortable in space and pursuit. Can change directions and chase down plays. Shows motor and does not give up on plays. Shifts from outside to inside and has played up and down the line. Carries his weight very well so could continue to pack on pounds and be a combo guy in college. Does not currently have bad weight. Long-term projection is likely most likely as a five-tech but that depends on physical development. Combo of athleticism and versatility make him a high-end prospect. Has to continue developing from a technical standpoint with his hands and get stronger, but he looks like he will be a starter for high-major program and has the baseline tools to play beyond college.

Marshall had offers from schools such as Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Miami and Texas.

BREAKING: Former Wisconsin Badgers guard commits to a Big Ten rival

Reaction to Connor Essegian committing to a Big Ten rival?

Former Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian announced his transfer commitment to Nebraska on Sunday afternoon.

The fan-favorite Badgers guard had also visited Big Ten rivals Maryland and Indiana, but opted for the Cornhuskers in the end.

Related: An updated list of Wisconsin basketball’s transfer portal targets

Essegian struggled in 2023-24 after falling far in the rotation, averaging just 7.3 minutes and 3.2 points per game. Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg hopes he returns to his freshman year form — 27.4 minutes and 11.7 points per game on 40% shooting and 36% from three.

He joins a Nebraska program that made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 in 2023-24. Hoiberg has the Cornhuskers headed in the right direction, and is now looking to take the next step into contention.

The now-former Badger is sure to play more at his new home. He transfers with two years of eligibility remaining.

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard must replace the departed production of Essegian, Chucky Hepburn, A.J. Storr and Tyler Wahl. He and his staff are hard at work in the transfer portal to mitigate those losses, though they are yet to receive a commitment.

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Former Wisconsin guard to announce transfer commitment later today (Sunday, April 21)

Former Wisconsin guard to announce transfer commitment later today

Former Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian will announce his transfer commitment at 3 p.m. central, 4 p.m. eastern on Sunday, April 21.

The fan-favorite guard earned plenty of interest after entering the transfer portal on March 24. He’s taken official visits to Ole Miss and to Big Ten rivals Nebraska, Maryland and Indiana.

Related: An updated list of Wisconsin basketball’s transfer portal targets

Essegian recently received an On3 transfer prediction to choose the Big Ten rival Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The sharpshooter struggled in 2023-24 after losing much of his playing time, averaging just 7.3 minutes and 3.2 points per game. There remains promise from his freshman season, however, which saw the guard average 27.4 minutes and 11.7 points.

Essegian is one of numerous Wisconsin Badgers to have entered the transfer portal since the end of the season. A.J. Storr has already committed to Kansas, while Chucky Hepburn, Gus Yalden and others remain uncommitted.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin is still working to replace the minutes, production and experience of departed starters Hepburn, Storr and Tyler Wahl. Essegian is another loss to add to that list — as his role would’ve likely increased in 2024-25.

All signs now point towards him suiting up for a Big Ten rival.

UPDATE: Essegian committed to Nebraska at 3 p.m. central

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Michigan basketball gets commitment from prized transfer center

Literally huge! #GoBlue

Michigan basketball is in transition, moving from the Juwan Howard era to the leadership of Dusty May. It’s taken a while, but May finally is getting some momentum on the recruiting trail as well as via the transfer portal.

After getting commitments from four-star point guard Justin Pippen (Scottie Pippen’s son) and North Texas transfer guard Rubin Jones on Friday, May is getting things going, with another big transfer commitment on Saturday.

During the Michigan football spring game, the maize and blue got a commitment from Danny Wolf, the highly-sought-after Yale transfer center who comes in at 7-feet tall. Wolf hails from Glencoe (Ill.) and was a part of the 2022 recruiting class.

247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein has the scouting report on Wolf coming out of the Ivy League:

Danny Wolf is a highly skilled big man who helped lead Yale back to the NCAA Tournament in his sophomore year while averaging 14.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals, all while shooting 47% from the floor, 35% from three, and 72% from the free-throw line.

While his height may be slightly embellished, he still possesses a rare combination of size and skill that has led to significant high-major interest out of the portal. Wolf may even have more shooting potential than we’ve seen so far, with naturally soft touch and clean mechanics that should yield a higher percentage when he’s not the focal point of opposing defenses and utilized as a floor-spacer more frequently. He’s a pick-and-pop threat and also very adept at putting the ball on the floor, giving him potential to operate out of various types of offensive actions.

Athleticism and durability are key variables moving forward. He was fully healthy this year after playing 21 games as a freshman and battling various injuries in his last year of high school. He still has another level he can get to with his conditioning, that could help him on the defensive end of the floor, as well as with maintain his rebounding prowess against higher levels of competition.

Unranked coming out of high school, Wolf was a four-star in the transfer portal, ranked No. 19 overall, regardless of position, by 247Sports. It’s unclear whether or not this will affect the recruitment of former FAU center Vlad Goldin who is the No. 33 player in the transfer portal.

Michigan basketball gets first commitment under Dusty May

Huge pull for May for his first commitment! #GoBlue

Michigan basketball has been waiting to get its first commitment — either from the recruiting class or via the transfer portal — since Dusty May took over the reins from Juwan Howard late last month. With multiple targets on the board, it was unclear who would drop first, but the one who did ended up being a big one for May and his new staff.

The son of former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen, 2024 Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon point guard Justin Pippen had a number of suitors. Hailing from the class that’s currently on the clock and that will be on campus this upcoming season, Pippen is rated the No. 62 player in the country per 247Sports’ proprietary rankings. And on Friday, he announced he’s choosing Michigan basketball over Florida, Stanford, Texas A&M, and Cal.

At 6-foot-3, 180-pounds, Pippen got a glowing scouting report from 247Sports’ Travis Barham earlier this week:

Pippen is a dynamic combo-guard that has bloomed late in his high school career, much like his brother and father. He’s grown nearly two inches in the last eight months while also continuing to improve and expand his skillset as both a scorer and playmaker.

Pippen is a naturally talented guard with good instincts for the game. He is very comfortable with the ball in his hands to score from all three levels and also set the tables for those around him. As he continues to grow and fill out his frame, Pippen can become a highly impactful high-major guard, much like his brother did at Vanderbilt before him.

With Pippen in the fold, Michigan at least has a point guard soon to be on the roster. Time will tell whether or not he’ll be thrust into a starting role early or if he’ll have some time to develop.

Wisconsin basketball top transfer target delays commitment announcement

Not great news for the Badgers:

Wisconsin basketball top transfer portal target Frankie Fidler is delaying his commitment announcement.

The highly touted forward originally planned to join 1620 The Zone in Omaha, Nebraska, at 8 a.m. on Monday morning to announce his transfer destination. The Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus shared The Zone had noted he was delaying his decision.

Related: Tracking Wisconsin basketball’s reported transfer portal visits and targets

This news is somewhat substantial. Fidler spent the weekend visiting Big Ten rival Michigan State. The Badgers are still in the running, along with the Spartans, Nebraska Cornhuskers and Creighton Bluejays. After Wisconsin seemed like a clear front-runner thanks to the relationship between Fidler and Badgers point guard Chucky Hepburn, this delay could signal a late push by a rival program.

Fidler averaged 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists on 45% shooting and 35% from 3 as a junior at Omaha in 2023-24. He is one of the transfer portal’s best players and would be a terrific addition for any major program.

Wisconsin is in need of his talent on the wing after the departures of A.J. Storr and Tyler Wahl.

We may still hear his transfer decision soon, though the originally date seems to be out of the picture.

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Wisconsin football adds specialist Sean West to its class of 2024

Wisconsin football adds specialist Sean West to its class of 2024

Wisconsin added a preferred walk-on commitment from class of 2024 kicker/punter Sean West Wednesday afternoon.

West went 15/19 on field goal attempts and 23/26 on extra points for Homestead High School in 2023. The specialist also averaged 42.9 yards per punt.

Related: Wisconsin football’s starting offense and defense begin to take shape at spring practice

The Badger walk-on earned the Kevin Stemke Award after his 2023 high school season —  the award given to Wisconsin’s best high school senior specialist.

West will join a specialist room in Madison currently led by returning kicker Nathanial Vakos and punter Atticus Bertrams. He will join the Wisconsin football program alongside a class of 2024 that finished ranked No. 25 in the nation with a blue-chip ratio of 50%.

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