Wisconsin football recruiting: Another big weekend coming up for the Badgers

June is a rough month for the average college football fan. There hasn’t been a meaningful game played since Clemson stomped Alabama in January and the first game of the new season isn’t for another two months! Luckily, we at Bucky’s 5th Quarter aren’t “average college football fans,” we are above average in both looks and hunger for knowledge on OFFICIAL VISITS FOR ‘CROOTS!

Last weekend’s official visit-palooza has already led to one new commitment for the Badgers 2020 class AND one new commitment for the 2021 class. Not too shabby a weekend if you ask me. The Badgers class remains ranked No. 26 by 247Sports (No. 27 by Rivals), after sneaking into the top-25 with Nick Herbig’s commitment earlier in the week, since Tennessee jumped over them with a new CB commit on Wednesday.

Wisconsin has nine solid commits for 2020 and six (6!!!) will be in Madison for their official visit staring on Friday. Let’s take a look at which players will be on campus this weekend.

All star rankings use the 247Sports Composite.

Cole Dakovich, 3-star OLB, Waukesha, Wisconsin (Catholic Memorial)

After delaying his official visit by one week, Dakovich will be on campus this weekend and will have plenty of help convincing the three undecided recruits to join him in Madison. While the 6’5” rising senior wasn’t in town last weekend, he certainly was excited that he gained a new running mate.

Chimere Dike, 3-star WR, Waukesha, Wisconsin (North)

Dike is the rare in-state wide receiver to verbally commit to the Badgers. Former B5Q editor and continuing bad beer take haver, Jake Kocorowski had a nice interview with Dike back in May. He’s already been getting after fellow visitor, Cam Large, about joining the #BadgerBoiz20 via Twitter dot com.

Ben Barten, 3-star OT, Stratford, Wisconsin (Stratford)

Barten seems like he could be one of your stereotypical, under-recruited, small town Wisconsin offensive linemen that eventually make All-B1G teams. His Hudl film shows him finishing blocks with the sort of aggression you’d normally see out of someone typing out a snarky reply online that noticed you used the wrong spelling of “there.”

Dylan Barrett, 3-star OG, Saint Charles, Illinois (St. Charles East)

The only offensive lineman commit not from the state of Wisconsin comes from the exotic land of Illinois.

Barrett is pumped to come to Madison and I hope he gets to go to The Terrace like that image suggests.

Cam Large, 3-star TE, Pomfret, Connecticut (Noble and Greenough School, Dedham, Massachusetts)

A 6’5” and 240 lbs. tight end with the surname “Large?” Are you freaking kidding me??? This guy HAS to come to Wisconsin. The Badgers are really punching with the heavyweights in the battle for Large’s services though. He visited Alabama (ever heard of ‘em?) last weekend and has visits scheduled for Georgia and Ohio State after he’s done in Madison.

UPDATE: Large is in the building!

Jalen Paxton, 3-star WR, Manvel, Texas (Manvel)

Former Graham Mertz teammate, Daniel Jackson, is probably the top wideout on Paul Chryst’s board, but Paxton is no consolation prize. He’s an under-the-radar receiver with shifty moves and good straight line speed that has earned offers from Indiana, a handful of G5 schools and also Yale. Wisconsin would be happy to have him, methinks.

(It should be noted that Rivals no longer has Paxton on their visitor list for this weekend.)

Trey Wedig, 4-star OT, Wales, Wisconsin (Kettle Moraine)

Wedig is built like an actual NFL tackle at 6’7” and 301 pounds. He’s the best player in Wisconsin, the ninth best tackle in the nation and 82nd best player overall. I don’t even have anything else to say about him, I’m amazed by how good he is. Does he even fit in the average desk at his school?

Jack Nelson, 4-star OT, Stoughton, Wisconsin (Stoughton)

Local boy done good, Jack Nelson, is another mammoth offensive lineman in the 2020 Badger class. He verbally committed all the way back in the fall of 2017 and has grown an inch to 6’7” since then, but weighs a mere 273 pounds. SMH, Jack.

Everyone seemed to be pretty pumped when Herbig committed because most of these guys don’t tweet much (since most people under 25 don’t tweet much) but a lot of them logged on to comment on Herbig’s verbal.

Kevontre Bradford, 4-star RB, Lancaster, Texas (Lancaster)

His Twitter banner picture is of The Flash, he has The Flash in his bio and in this video he crosses the goal line like a sprinter finishing a race.

Dude is fast.

(It should be noted that Rivals no longer has Bradford on their visitor list for this weekend.)

Parker Washington, 3-star WR, Richmond, Texas (Fort Bend Travis)

Washington is a late addition to the official visitor list and is an exciting get for the Badgers to have on campus.

The 5’10” receiver ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at The Opening Final last year and holy crap is that fast. His stats were off the charts too and he looks like a guy that could come in and contribute right away based on his tape.

UPDATE: Parker is in Madison and ready for his visit.