Badger Watch 2: Defensive backs
With summer camps over and more commitments in place, Wisconsin has a better idea of what its 2014 recruiting class will look like. Over the next two weeks, BadgerBlitz.com will reanalyze UW's recruiting efforts with a position-by-position breakdown of targets to see how the Badgers will fill their 2014 recruiting class.
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Today, we reexamine the defensive backs.
1. Last update: Badger Watch: Defensive backs (5/24/13)
2. What's happened since May?
Much like in-state linebacker Dominic Cizauskas, the Badgers had Tampa (FL) Plant safety Austin Hudson on campus for UW's camp in June. And like Cizauskas, Hudson earned an offer and committed shortly after. It was the first defensive back commitment for Wisconsin in the current class.
"Austin has unbelievable, freakish talent," Plant High School head coach Robert Weiner BadgerBlitz.com. "But with the injury to his groin last year, he didn't play a whole lot for us a junior. So for a kid who didn't have a lot a junior film, I think Wisconsin took advantage of that. They saw at camp what I already knew, that Austin is as good as any other kid, he just didn't have the volume of film out there.
"In the end, I think Austin really appreciated the fact that they believed in him and he doesn't want to let them down."
The Badgers also hosted Georgia cornerback Zavior Hoxie, who came away very impressed. In fact, Hoxie named Wisconsin his leader after his unofficial in June.
"It went absolutely great," Hoxie told BadgerBlitz.com when asked about his trip. "They're (UW) at No. 1 right now."
Four more recruits to keep an eye on include Deion Hallmon, Andre Godfrey, Christian Byrum and Khalia Hackett, all of whom put Wisconsin in their top five.
Hackett will take his official visit on Sept. 21 while Godfrey is expected at some point this fall. Byrum, who is being recruited by Chris Beatty, was one of UW's first offers in the 2014 class.
"Coach Beatty really wants us to start a Virginia Beach pipeline up to Wisconsin," Byrum told Rivals.com. "He keeps in contact a lot and is really trying to get Jamil (Kamara) and me to come up there."
In the meantime, Al Harris (South Carolina), Daejuan Funderburk (Temple), Troy Vincent (Penn State), C.J. Reavis (Virginia Tech), Darius West (Kentucky), Mike Edwards (Kentucky), Cameron Albright (North Carolina) and Allen Artis (North Carolina), all committed to other schools.
3. What happens next?
With one safety in the mix, look for the Badgers to take at least two more defensive backs. Hoxie could make a decision shortly, while Hallmon, Godfrey, Byrum and Hackett will wait to take official visits before making a decision.
Also look for Demarlon Morris and Kenzo Cotton to take a visits to Wisconsin before making a decision.
"It's been going well with Wisconsin, I just talked to coach (T.J.) Woods and coach (Dave) Aranda," Cotton told BadgerBlitz.com. "They said that they would like me to come for a visit before I start taking my officials so I can meet them and that they would let me run track at Wisconsin.
"That's especially important to me since I'm still trying to decide what I want to do in college."
Finally, keep an eye on John Plattenburg and Dedric Brinson. Plattenburg will likely stay closer to the West Coast but the Badgers sit well for Brinson, a two-star prospect from Florida.
4. Class Prediction: Since I have the Badgers only taking two linebackers, there would be room for four defensive backs. As of right now, I think Wisconsin will get Morris, Hoxie and Godfrey in addition to Hudson. Cotton and Hackett are strong possibilities as well, though the Badgers sit behind Kansas State and Arkansas, respectively, for each prospect.
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