Like many seasons before, the Wisconsin Badgers do not have a top ranked recruiting class. In fact, Rivals.com has the Badgers at 48th and Scout.com at 53rd.
It’s been a tumultuous off-season for the Badgers who have lost six assistant coaches to other jobs and now have signed one of the smallest recruiting classes ever under Head Coach Bret Bielema.
Even with the disclaimers, I wouldn’t bet against the Badgers who often exceed their expectations. Here are the notable signees (four-star recruits) who hope they can play a part in the Badgers returning to the Rose Bowl for a third year in a row.
Vince Biegel (pictured above)
– 6’3, 225, LB
– Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Lincoln HS)
High School: Four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and Scout … No. 73 player nationally by Rivals … ranked as the No. 3 outside linebacker by Rivals, No. 15 by ESPN and No. 23 by Scout … top-ranked player in Wisconsin by ESPN and Rivals … finished his career with 425 tackles, 27 sacks, 10 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and four defensive touchdowns … in senior season, named U.S. Army, USA Today and Parade All-American … also the Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year and Conference Player of the Year … 2011 National Underclassman Midwest Ultimate Top 60 … winner of the John Anderson Award (outstanding linebacker) and finalist for the Dick Butkus Award
Bart Houston
– 6’4, 215, QB
– Dublin, Calif. (De La Salle HS)
High School: Four-star recruit by ESPN and Scout, three-star recruit by Rivals … ranked by Scout as the No. 7 quarterback in the country, by Rivals as the No. 12 QB and by ESPN as the No. 15 QB … holds school records for career passing yards and completions, surpassing Matt Gutierrez who played three seasons in the NFL … invited to ESPN Elite 11 QB camp and played in Semper-Fidelis All-American Bowl
Vonte Jackson
– 6’0, 190, RB
– Kenosha, Wis. (Bradford HS)
High School: Four-star recruit by Rivals and Scout and three-star recruit by ESPN … ranked as the No. 21 running back in the nation by Rivals, No. 22 by ESPN and No. 28 by Scout … No. 2 player in the state by ESPN and Rivals … missed almost all of senior season after tearing his ACL with 16 seconds left in second quarter of first game, still managed to rush for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and catch one pass for 38 yards before injury … carried 68 times for 956 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 14 passes for 266 yards and four touchdowns in his junior year.
DJ Singleton
– 6’2, 195, S
– Union, N.J. (St. Peter’s Prep)
High School: Four-star recruit by ESPN and Scout and three-star recruit by Rivals … No. 14 safety in the country according to Scout, No. 18 by ESPN and No. 27 by Rivals … as a senior, selected for the US Marine All-American All-Star Game and the USA Today International Bowl … also chosen all-state, all-metro and all-county after posting 53 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and 12 tackles for loss … named all-county and U.S. Army All-American Combine second-team after making 40 tackles with three sacks and three forced fumbles as a junior.
Dan Voltz
6’4, 295, OL
Barrington, Ill. (Barrington HS)
High School: Four-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and ESPN … seventh-ranked guard in the nation by Scout and No. 8 by Rivals, No. 19 offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN … third-ranked player in Illinois by ESPN and fourth-ranked in Illinois by Rivals … named all-state as a senior by Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, Illinois News-Gazette and Chicago Tribune, also named Mid-Suburban All-Conference and Daily Herald All-Area … IHSA All-State Academic Team member … team captain as a senior
The full list of new Badgers with videos can be found on the school’s website by clicking here.
What do you think of the Badgers 2012 signing class? Let me know by commenting below!
Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He also enjoys to share Fantasy Advice from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.