Wisconsin football recruiting: season stats and WIAA state tournament

Recruiting is the lifeblood of any major college athletics team, but following it closely as a fan can sometimes be difficult and can often be time consuming. We’ll try and condense all the recruiting news you can use into this bi-weekly post. It’ll include updates on current commits, including stats from their high school games, as well as news on players the Badgers are still pursuing. Let’s get down to business!

Current Football Commits

So, it is tournament time in the great state of Wisconsin! The WIAA announced the brackets for the state tournament over the weekend and a bunch of current Wisconsin commits will be partaking.

Here are the brackets for the various divisions. Keep in mind, Division 1 is the biggest schools. It took me YEARS to realize that. Whatever, shut up, I’m not from Wisconsin.

All stats are from the essential wissports.net site.

Division 1

Group A:

(#8) Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln (4-5) at (#1) Kimberly (9-0) @Kimberly - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Eau Claire Memorial (5-4) at (#2) Appleton North (6-3) @Appleton North - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) D.C. Everest (5-4) at (#3) Appleton East (6-3) @Appleton East - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Hudson (4-5) at (#4) Neenah (4-5) @Neenah - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group B:

(#8) Milwaukee Bradley Technical/Milw Arts (5-4) at (#1) Bay Port (9-0) @Bay Port - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Manitowoc Lincoln (4-5) at (#2) Marquette (6-3) @Marquette - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Milwaukee Marshall / Carmen Northwest / Juneau / Languages (6-3) at (#3) Milwaukee King (9-0) @Milwaukee King - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Green Bay Preble (5-4) at (#4) Milwaukee Riverside/Golda Meir (8-1) @Milwaukee Riverside/Golda Meir - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group C:

(#8) Madison West (4-5) at (#1) Madison Memorial (9-0) @Madison Memorial - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Arrowhead (4-5) at (#2) Fond du Lac (8-1) @Fond du Lac - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Sun Prairie (6-3) at (#3) Verona (7-2) @Verona - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Madison La Follette (6-3) at (#4) Middleton (7-2) @Middleton - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group D:

(#8) Milwaukee Pulaski/Carmen South/Carmen Southeast (4-4) at (#1) Muskego (9-0) @Muskego - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Kenosha Bradford/Reuther (3-6) at (#2) Franklin (8-1) @Franklin - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Racine Case (4-5) at (#3) Kenosha Indian Trail (7-2) @Kenosha Indian Trail - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Oak Creek (5-4) at (#4) Mukwonago (6-3) @Mukwonago - Friday, 07:00 PM

Badgers commits playing: 3-star DE Cade McDonald (Hudson); 3-star OT Sean Timmis (Marquette University); 3-star 2021 RB Jackson Acker (Verona); 3-star 2021 RB Loyal Crawford (Eau Claire Memorial)

McDonald had one catch for one yard and one touchdown. EFFICIENCY! He also, in the two games I could find stats for him, had eight tackles (three for loss) and a sack.

Crawford only played in four games due to injury but he was electric when he was on the field. He ended the regular season with 610 yards on 62 carries (152.5 ypg) and found the end zone 11 times.

Acker rushed 101 times for 886 yards (126.6 ypg) and scored 11 touchdowns on the ground. He added three catches for 35 yards and returned five kicks for 231 yards (46.2 avg.) and housed two of them.

Division 2

Group A:

(#8) Chippewa Falls (3-6) at (#1) Pulaski (8-1) @Pulaski - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) De Pere (4-5) at (#2) Hortonville (8-1) @Hortonville - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Green Bay Southwest (4-5) at (#3) Kaukauna (6-3) @Kaukauna - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Marshfield (6-3) at (#4) Superior (7-2) @Superior - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group B:

(#8) West Bend East (4-5) at (#1) Brookfield Central (7-2) @Brookfield Central - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Cedarburg (4-5) at (#2) Menomonee Falls (7-2) @Menomonee Falls - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Germantown (5-4) at (#3) Homestead (7-2) @Homestead - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Slinger (6-3) at (#4) Brookfield East (7-2) @Brookfield East - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group C:

(#8) Oregon (4-5) at (#1) Hartford (9-0) @Hartford - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Monona Grove (4-5) at (#2) Waunakee (8-1) @Waunakee - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) La Crosse Central (5-4) at (#3) Milton (8-1) @Milton - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Holmen (6-3) at (#4) Watertown (6-3) @Watertown - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group D:

(#8) South Milwaukee (6-3) at (#1) Waterford (8-1) @Waterford - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Milwaukee Reagan (7-2) at (#2) Wilmot (8-1) @Wilmot - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Kettle Moraine (4-5) at (#3) Waukesha West (6-3) @Waukesha West - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Badger (6-3) at (#4) Burlington (7-2) @Burlington - Friday, 07:00 PM

Badgers commits playing: 4-star OT Trey Wedig (Kettle Moraine)

Wedig had 37 tackles (eight for loss) and 1.5 sacks.

Division 3

Group A:

(#8) Lakeland (6-3) at (#1) Menomonie (8-1) @ UW Stout - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Hayward / La Courte Oreilles (6-3) at (#2) Medford (9-0) @ Medford - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Rhinelander (6-3) at (#3) River Falls (7-2) @ UW - River Falls - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Mosinee (6-3) at (#4) New Richmond (7-2) @ New Richmond Middle School - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group B:

(#8) Shawano (5-4) at (#1) West De Pere (9-0) @West De Pere - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Whitefish Bay (5-4) at (#2) Menasha (8-1) @Menasha - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Fox Valley Lutheran (7-2) at (#3) New London (7-2) @New London - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Grafton (6-3) at (#4) Ashwaubenon (7-2) @Ashwaubenon - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group C:

(#8) McFarland (6-3) at (#1) DeForest (9-0) @DeForest - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Monroe (5-4) at (#2) Onalaska (8-1) @Onalaska - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Sauk Prairie (6-3) at (#3) Stoughton (7-2) @Stoughton - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Sparta (7-2) at (#4) Reedsburg (7-2) @Reedsburg - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group D:

(#8) Union Grove (4-5) at (#1) New Berlin Eisenhower (8-1) @New Berlin Eisenhower - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Wisconsin Lutheran (4-5) at (#2) Plymouth (8-1) @Plymouth - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Pewaukee (5-4) at (#3) Whitnall (7-2) @Whitnall - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) New Berlin West (8-1) at (#4) Greendale (6-3) @Greendale - Friday, 07:00 PM

Badgers commits playing: 4-star OT Jack Nelson (Stoughton); unranked OT Kerry Kodanko (West De Pere); 4-star 2021 OT J.P. Benzschawel (Grafton)

Nelson had 28 tackles on defense and I couldn’t find any stats for Kodanko and Benzschawel.

Division 4

Group A:

(#8) Northland Pines (5-4) at (#1) Freedom (9-0) @Freedom - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Black River Falls (5-4) at (#2) Baldwin-Woodville (7-2) @Baldwin-Woodville - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Little Chute (5-4) at (#3) Wrightstown (7-2) @Wrightstown - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Saint Croix Central (7-2) at (#4) Osceola (6-3) @Osceola - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group B:

(#8) Campbellsport (3-6) at (#1) Kiel (9-0) @Kiel - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Winneconne (6-3) at (#2) Sheboygan Falls (7-2) @Sheboygan Falls - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Ripon (4-5) at (#3) Berlin (7-2) @Berlin - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Xavier (5-4) at (#4) Denmark (6-3) @Denmark - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group C:

(#8) Big Foot (4-5) at (#1) Evansville (8-1) @Evansville - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Brodhead/Juda (4-5) at (#2) River Valley (8-1) @River Valley - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Mauston (6-3) at (#3) Edgerton (8-1) @Edgerton - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Lakeside Lutheran (5-4) at (#4) Jefferson (6-3) @Jefferson - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group D:

(#8) Obama SCTE (3-6) at (#1) Catholic Memorial (7-2) @ Catholic Memorial - Schneider Stadium, Carroll U - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Saint Francis (6-3) at (#2) Lake Mills (8-1) @Lake Mills - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) University School of Milwaukee (5-4) at (#3) Martin Luther (7-2) @Martin Luther - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) East Troy (5-4) at (#4) Kewaskum (5-4) @Kewaskum - Friday, 07:00 PM

Badgers commits playing: 3-star OLB/TE Cole Dakovich (Catholic Memorial)

Dakovich had 22 catches for 228 yards and two scores and added 52 tackles and two sacks on defense.

Division 5

Group A:

(#8) Nekoosa (4-5) at (#1) Northwestern (9-0) @Northwestern - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Spooner (4-5) at (#2) Stratford (9-0) @Stratford - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Spencer / Columbus Catholic (5-4) at (#3) Bloomer (7-2) @Bloomer - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Saint Croix Falls (5-4) at (#4) Elk Mound (6-3) @Elk Mound - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group B:

(#8) Peshtigo (5-4) at (#1) Amherst (8-0) @Amherst - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Omro (3-6) at (#2) Kewaunee (8-1) @Kewaunee - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Wittenberg-Birnamwood (6-3) at (#3) Chilton (7-2) @Chilton - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Laconia (5-4) at (#4) New Holstein (6-3) @New Holstein - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group C:

(#8) Marshall (2-7) at (#1) Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau (8-1) @Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) New Glarus / Monticello (5-4) at (#2) Prairie du Chien (8-1) @Prairie du Chien - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Arcadia (5-4) at (#3) Columbus (6-3) @Columbus - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Platteville (6-3) at (#4) Aquinas (6-3) @Aquinas - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group D:

(#8) Brookfield Academy (5-4) at (#1) Lake Country Lutheran (8-1) @Lake Country Lutheran - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) St. John’s NW Military Academy (6-3) at (#2) Racine Saint Catherine’s (8-1) @ Kenosha Bradford - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Oostburg (6-3) at (#3) Cedar Grove-Belgium (8-1) @Cedar Grove-Belgium - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Lomira (7-2) at (#4) Horicon / Hustisford (8-1) @Horicon / Hustisford - Friday, 07:00 PM

Badgers commits playing: 3-star OT Ben Barten (Stratford); 3-star OG Tanor Bortolini (Kewaunee)

Barten had 42 tackles, 10 TFL, 3.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pick on the season.

Division 6

Group A:

(#8) Lake Holcombe/Cornell (5-4) at (#1) Regis (9-0) @Regis - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Durand (4-5) at (#2) Spring Valley (8-1) @Spring Valley - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Grantsburg (6-3) at (#3) Unity (8-1) @Unity - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Colby (7-2) at (#4) Cumberland (8-1) @Cumberland - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group B:

(#8) Crivitz (4-5) at (#1) Abbotsford (9-0) @Abbotsford - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Pardeeville (4-5) at (#2) Manawa (7-2) @Manawa - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Coleman (7-2) at (#3) Bonduel (7-2) @Bonduel - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Markesan (5-3) at (#4) Auburndale (7-2) @Auburndale - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group C:

(#8) Whitehall (4-5) at (#1) Mondovi (9-0) @Mondovi - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Melrose-Mindoro (5-4) at (#2) Mineral Point (9-0) @Mineral Point - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Osseo-Fairchild (5-4) at (#3) Lancaster (8-1) @Lancaster - Friday, 06:00 PM

(#5) Darlington (6-3) at (#4) Benton/Scales Mound IL/Shullsburg (7-1) @Benton/Scales Mound IL/Shullsburg - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group D:

(#8) Ozaukee (4-5) at (#1) Racine Lutheran (9-0) @Racine Lutheran - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Random Lake (6-3) at (#2) Saint Mary’s Springs (7-2) @Saint Mary’s Springs - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Johnson Creek (7-2) at (#3) Winnebago Lutheran (6-3) @Winnebago Lutheran - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Palmyra-Eagle (7-2) at (#4) Cambridge (8-1) @Cambridge - Friday, 07:00 PM

Division 7

Group A:

(#8) Webster (4-4) at (#1) Bangor (9-0) @Bangor - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Augusta (6-3) at (#2) Blair-Taylor (7-2) @Blair-Taylor - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Clear Lake (5-4) at (#3) Turtle Lake (6-3) @Turtle Lake - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Pepin/Alma (5-4) at (#4) Eleva-Strum (6-3) @Eleva-Strum - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group B:

(#8) Greenwood (6-3) at (#1) Edgar (8-1) @Edgar - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Athens (5-4) at (#2) Almond-Bancroft (9-0) @Almond-Bancroft - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Pittsville (5-3) at (#3) Gilman (7-2) @Gilman - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Loyal (5-4) at (#4) Hurley (7-2) @Hurley - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group C:

(#8) Cashton (5-4) at (#1) Black Hawk/Warren IL (9-0) @Black Hawk/Warren IL - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Highland (5-4) at (#2) Potosi/Cassville (7-2) @Potosi/Cassville - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) De Soto (7-2) at (#3) River Ridge (6-3) @River Ridge - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Wauzeka-Steuben/Seneca (6-3) at (#4) Ithaca (7-2) @Ithaca - Friday, 07:00 PM

Group D:

(#8) Rosholt (4-5) at (#1) Hilbert (9-0) @Hilbert - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#7) Hillsboro (5-4) at (#2) Lourdes Academy (9-0) @ - Titan Stadium - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#6) Reedsville (5-4) at (#3) Brookwood (7-2) @Brookwood - Friday, 07:00 PM

(#5) Catholic Central (5-4) at (#4) Randolph (7-2) @Randolph - Friday, 07:00 PM

Badgers commits that AREN’T playing: 3-star WR Chimere Dike (Waukesha North)

Dike had a great season, and it’s a bummer that Waukesha North won’t be in the state tournament. He was tied for ninth in the state with 59 catches and eighth in the state with 962 yards and added six touchdowns. He added 93 tackles (three for loss), two forced fumbles and two picks on defense and routinely made highlight reel catches/tackles.

My dad’s high school didn’t even make it so I will not even try to make predictions (except for Kaukauna to do well because Rock went there! Go B5Q high schools!) and instead leave it to the comment section to get real partisan about where they went to high school and why the team from the next town over sucks old car tires.