Badger Watch 2: Tight ends
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 tight ends.
1. Last update: Badger Watch: Tight ends (5/16/13)
2. What's happened since May?
The biggest news on the tight end front came from Somerset, Wis., native Gaelin Elmore, who committed to Minnesota over offers from Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa State, among others.
Before Elmore's commitment, however, the Badgers offered Ryan Izzo, Deandre Goolsby and Davion Riley. Out of the group, Izzo has shown the most interest in Wisconsin, and recently put UW in his top six.
"They (Wisconsin) have a great tight end history," Izzo told Rivals.com. "I really enjoyed the visit up there. I got to talk to coach [Thomas] Hammock and [tight ends] coach [Jeff] Genyk. Everything went smoothly. I thought they had a really beautiful stadium."
The Badgers are also still in the mix for Mike Gesicki, who now has offers from Ohio State and Penn State, among others. A 6-foot-6, 215-pound prospect, Gesicki, who has already visited Wisconsin unofficially, is nearing 20 scholarship offers.
"I went out there in February and I loved everything about it," Gesicki told Rivals.com about Wisconsin. "I went out there on a snowy day and I still loved it, so that definitely showed something. Their facilities are great. Their coaches are new but I have a lot of trust in those coaches from their past history. I definitely like the kind of offensive system that coach (Andy) Ludwing, the offensive coordinator who is coming in runs."
UW is set to lose three tight ends -- Jacob Pedersen, Brian Wozniak and Brock DeCicco -- to graduation at the conclusion of the 2013 season.
3. What happens next?
The Badgers will continue to go after Izzo and Gesicki, but they may not take both, as each projects to the flex tight end spot as opposed to an in-line role. If the staff really wants two tight ends in this class, they may have to extend some more offers, though Gesicki could also be used as a wide receiver.
4. Class Prediction: I could see both Izzo and Gesicki making the call for Wisconsin, but I think Izzo will decide first, so I'll project him as the Badgers tight end in the 2014 class. The staff will likely try to add an in-line tight end as well, with someone like Henry Mondeaux fitting the profile.
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