Tag: Jaylen Williams

Early Signing Day: Wisconsin officially signs two former top Michigan commits

Early Signing Day: Wisconsin officially signs two former top Michigan commits

Wisconsin’s busy few weeks in the class of 2025 culminated on Wednesday, when college football’s early signing period began.

Among Wisconsin’s many signings are two of the program’s most recent additions. Those players are four-star DL Jaylen Williams and four-star QB Carter Smith, each who were formerly among Michigan‘s top commits in the class.

Related: Early Signing Day Tracker: Updates on Wisconsin football’s full activity in class of 2025

Williams flipped to the Badgers from the Wolverines on Nov. 20, while Smith de-committed from Michigan and eventually committed to Wisconsin on Nov. 24.

Smith is Wisconsin’s highest-rated commit in the cycle, ranked as 247Sports’ No. 164 player in the class of 2025, No. 15 quarterback and No. 26 recruit from Florida.

Williams, meanwhile, is among the most important members of the class. Wisconsin’s defensive line group looks incredibly thin moving forward. His status as a four-star recruit and 247Sports’ No. 230-ranked player in the class should begin to address that issue.

Each players’ respective path to Wisconsin was different. Wisconsin beat Florida State more than anybody else for Smith after he left Michigan’s class — a move that coincided with the program’s pursuit of top quarterback Bryce Underwood. Both, however, were previously two of the Wolverines’ top commits in the cycle.

Wisconsin has not won much on the field since Luke Fickell arrived before the 2023 season. These two signings represent important recruiting wins as he works to chart the program’s path forward.

For more updates on Wisconsin’s early signing period, bookmark our signing day tracker.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Where Wisconsin’s class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time flip of Jaylen Williams from Michigan

Where Wisconsin’s class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time flip of Jaylen Williams from Michigan

Wisconsin made a significant move in the class of 2025 on Wednesday, flipping four-star defensive lineman Jaylen Williams from Big Ten rival Michigan.

Williams instantly becomes the second-highest-rated commit in the Badgers’ class of 2025. He trails only four-star linebacker Mason Posa, 247Sports’ No. 163 player in the class.

Related: Everything Luke Fickell said about the Phil Longo firing, Badgers’ offensive plan moving forward

The addition moves Luke Fickell’s 2025 group to 24 total commitments. His addition led to a sizable jump in the 247Sports national team rankings, rising from No. 29 up to No. 25.

That rise brought the class up to No. 9 in the new Big Ten, now trailing Ohio State (No. 2 overall), Oregon (No. 8), USC (No. 13), Michigan (No. 14), Penn State (No. 16), Washington (No. 18), Nebraska (No. 21) and Maryland (No. 24).

Importantly, Williams’ addition also brings Wisconsin’s Blue Chip Ratio (portion of four and five-star recruits in the overall class) to 29%.

Wisconsin’s class has been in flux with several recent additions (Williams, DL Drayden Pavey, TE Emmett Bork) and decommitments (DL Wilnerson Telemaque, LB Brenden Anes). Williams appears to be one of the program’s final moves in the class.

Attention will now turn to four-star QB Carter Smith, who was on campus for the Badgers’ game against Oregon and is now reportedly deciding between Wisconsin and Florida State.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

BREAKING: Wisconsin flips top Michigan class of 2025 DL commit

BREAKING: Wisconsin flips Michigan top class of 2025 DL commit

Wisconsin landed a commitment from class of 2025 defensive lineman Jaylen Williams on Wednesday.

Williams had committed to Michigan in June. He flips to Wisconsin, instantly becoming one of the program’s highest-ranked commits in its class of 2025.

Related: Everything Luke Fickell said about the Phil Longo firing, Badgers’ offensive plan moving forward

247Sports ranks the four-star defensive lineman as the No. 279 player in the class of 2025, No. 28 defensive lineman and No. 7 recruit from the state of Illinois. His extended offer sheet, now likely irrelevant, includes top programs Florida, Florida State, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M and USC.

Williams is Wisconsin’s 24th commitment in the class of 2025. The group is now approaching the nation’s top 25. It has a blue-chip percentage of 29%.

This is a much-needed positive headline for Wisconsin amid its ongoing difficulties, headlined by the recent firing of offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Defensive line is a position the program has worked hard to address in this class. With Williams, the group has four players at the position committed.

Luke Fickell and the Badgers staff have flipped multiple highly touted recruits from Big Ten rivals. Williams joins DL Drayden Pavey (Purdue) and tight end Emmett Bork (Michigan State). He is one of what could be several finishing touches to the class. Focus will turn to uncommitted quarterback Carter Smith, who is reportedly deciding between Wisconsin and Florida State.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Michigan football loses another 2025 defensive lineman via flip

Bummer. #GoBlue

You win some and you lose some. For Michigan football, it gained a commitment on Wednesday with 2025 Belleville (Mich.) four-star safety Elijah Dotson flipping from Pitt, but it also unexpectedly lost a commitment in the class later in the day.

Though it had been awfully quiet, 2025 Palatine (Ill.) four-star defensive lineman Jaylen Williams has kept his options open, despite having been committed to the Wolverines since June 10. Apparently, Wisconsin had made a push, and it was enough to break him away from his pledge to Michigan football, as he was announced to have flipped to the Badgers with little warning.

 

Williams is the second four-star defensive line pledge who has flipped as of recent. The other, four-star Nate Marshall, also of Illinois, made a more expected flip to an Auburn team that had made him a top priority throughout the cycle.

Without Williams or Marshall, Michigan football does still have four-stars Bobby Kanka and Benny Patterson committed, with interest in a few other targets either committed elsewhere or uncommitted.

Michigan football gets a commitment from 2025 4-star DL

Let’s gooooo! #GoBlue

It’s been a long time coming but Michigan football managed to secure a top-priority target kicking off the month of June.

Recruiting has been a big deal for the maize and blue but the Wolverines haven’t had much to show for it. Sitting at five commitments entering the most pivotal month, the hope for the period where Michigan started hosting a slate of official visitors was that targets would start filling out the class.

Though June 21 kicks off the pivotal ‘victors weekend,’ the second week of visits managed to produce some fruit with the commitment of 2025 Palatine (Ill.) four-star defensive lineman Jaylen Williams.

Williams chose Michigan football over Nebraska, Purdue and Tennessee. He also had offers from Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas A&M, USC, and others.

The scouting report from 247Sports’ Allen Trieu:

Tall, long frame with athleticism and a basketball background. Gets off the ball with quickness and makes a good number of negative plays in the backfield. Runs by his high school competition quite a bit or wins quickly with his size and strength. Will need to get more technically adept at shedding against more even competition in college. Has a little bit of experience standing up, but we’re likely looking at a 290-300+ pound hand-down college lineman. He fits very well in an odd-front as an end. In a 4-3, he could be a combo guy but will likely grow into more of an interior player in that scheme. Still learning and has rawness to his game, but has clear high-major physical gifts and plays the game hard which is a good foundation.

247Sports has Williams rated as a four-star at No. 153 overall, the 20th-best defensive lineman and No. 5 player in the state of Illinois.

Nebraska to host Illinois defensive line recruit

Jaylen Williams will visit the Lincoln campus on June 21.

A four-star defensive lineman is planning an official visit to Nebraska. Jaylen Williams will visit the Lincoln campus on June 21.

Williams has announced his final four schools: Texas A&M, Tennessee, Michigan, and Nebraska. He will visit the Volunteers this weekend.

247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu believes that Williams has the potential to play as a Power Four starter.

Gets off the ball with quickness and makes a good number of negative plays in the backfield. Runs by his high school competition quite a bit or wins quickly with his size and strength.

Most recruiting services have the defensive lineman leaning toward the Wolverines. Nebraska’s class of 2025 currently holds ten commitments and is ranked just outside the Top 25.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Michigan football makes top group for one of its top 2025 targets

Continuing to move in a positive direction. #GoBlue

It wasn’t that long ago that, first. 2025 Palatine (Ill.) four-star defensive tackle Jaylen Williams appeared to be a Michigan football lock; but then his recruitment to the maize and blue appeared to wane a bit.

However, things have turned around in a big way in recent weeks. As a matter of fact, Williams is on campus in Ann Arbor as we speak for his official visit — which wasn’t a given just a few short weeks ago.

Just before he made it to Ann Arbor, Williams revealed his top group and Michigan football is, indeed, a finalist — along with Texas A&M, Tennessee, and Nebraska.

247Sports has Williams rated at No. 153 overall, regardless of position. Michigan football appears to be firmly in the pole position with four 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions that he’ll end up a Wolverine — with the most recent coming earlier this week from Allen Trieu.

Here is Trieu’s scouting report:

Tall, long frame with athleticism and a basketball background. Gets off the ball with quickness and makes a good number of negative plays in the backfield. Runs by his high school competition quite a bit or wins quickly with his size and strength. Will need to get more technically adept at shedding against more even competition in college. Has a little bit of experience standing up, but we’re likely looking at a 290-300+ pound hand-down college lineman. He fits very well in an odd-front as an end. In a 4-3, he could be a combo guy but will likely grow into more of an interior player in that scheme. Still learning and has rawness to his game, but has clear high-major physical gifts and plays the game hard which is a good foundation.

Williams also has offers from Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Iowa, Miami, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, USC, and Wisconsin.

2025 defensive lineman Jaylen Williams includes Vols in top four

2025 offensive tackle prospect Jaylen Williams includes Tennessee in top four schools.

2025 defensive line prospect Jaylen Williams included Tennessee in his top four schools.

Williams’ top four schools are Tennessee, Texas A&M, Michigan and Nebraska.

Williams is ranked as the No. 236 prospect in the class of 2025. He also ranks as the No. 29 defensive lineman and No. 6 player in Illinois, according to 247Sports.

The 6-foot-6, 265 pound four-star defensive lineman is from Palatine High School in Palatine, Illinois.

Williams will officially visit Tennessee on June 14. He unofficially visited Tennessee on Nov. 18 for the Vols’ game against Georgia. He will officially visit Nebraska on June 21.

The Vols offered Williams a scholarship on March 10, 2023.

The Vols have 10 commitments in its 2025 recruiting class: Quarterback George MacIntyre, defensive lineman Ethan Utley, tight end Jack Van Dorseiaer, cornerback Dylan Lewis, running back Justin Baker, wide receiver Joakim Dodson, cornerback Tyler Redmond, safety Sidney Walton, wide receiver Radarious Jackson and offensive lineman Antoni Kade Ogumoro.

Four-star lineman planning official visit to Nebraska

Jaylen Williams will visit the Lincoln campus on June 21.

A four-star defensive lineman is planning an official visit to Nebraska. Jaylen Williams will visit the Lincoln campus on June 21.

Williams also plans to visit Texas A&M, Miami, and Tennessee in the near future. The EDGE rusher holds offers from schools such as Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia, and Iowa.

247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu believes that Williams has the potential to play as a Power Four starter.

Gets off the ball with quickness and makes a good number of negative plays in the backfield. Runs by his high school competition quite a bit or wins quickly with his size and strength.

Most recruiting services have the defensive lineman leaning toward the Wolverines. Nebraska’s class of 2025 currently holds eight commitments and is ranked just outside the Top 25.

RELATED: A closer look at Nebraska’s class of 2025 following recent commitments

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Four-star defensive lineman’s recruitment seemingly wide open again

Four-star defensive lineman’s recruitment seemingly wide open again

Four-star defensive lineman Jaylen Williams, whom the Badgers have offered, sparked a frenzy on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. The class of 2025 athlete seemed headed to Michigan, but his recruitment appears to be back up in the air.

Williams was projected by 247Sports to join the Wolverines after his final year of high school in 2024-2025 at Palatine High School in Illinois, but his post from Tuesday stating “gone have to change that crystal ball” seems to suggest that he will not be headed to Ann Arbor.

Michigan’s head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter have both moved on to the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL, which has likely led the athlete’s comments.

The Badgers offered the four-star athlete in January 2023, and Williams currently has 23 Division I offers with plenty of time to decide where he wants to go in 2025.

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