Badger Watch: Defensive backs
With spring football over, recruiting takes center stage for Wisconsin's coaching staff. Over the next two weeks, BadgerBlitz.com will analyze 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 continue our series with a look at the defensive backs.
1. How many will Wisconsin take?
It's pretty remarkable that out of the 18 scholarship defensive backs on the roster next fall, only one, Dezmen Southward, is a senior. It's a youthful group, but with the changing scheme a new kind of player is being looked at. Look for the Badgers to still bring in at least three combined cornerbacks and safeties, if not more.
2. Who has Wisconsin landed so far?
The Badgers have not brought in any defensive backs yet.
3. Who's off the board?
Alonzo Saxton (Duke), Duke Dawson (Florida), Damon Webb (Ohio State), Marcus Allen (Penn State) and C.J. Reavis (Virginia Tech) have all committed elsewhere. Wisconsin was never a major player with any of the mentioned prospects.
4. Which recruits does Wisconsin have the best shot at landing?
Out of the 26 offers to non-committed prospects the Badgers have sent out, Wisconsin is actually in pretty good shape with quite a few. It's still early for a number of prospects, but they could still emerge as a leader for any of Deion Hallmon, Qua Searcy, Al Harris, Christian Byrum, Cortez McDowell, Daejuan Funderburk, Zavior Hoxie and Andre Godfrey, many of whom have expressed interest in visiting Madison.
They are also in Kenzo Cotton's top two along with Kansas State, and are right in the mix for 2014 junior college corner Demarlon Morris
5. Any long shots out there?
They aren't longshots in the traditional sense, but Darius West and Troy Vincent are two high profile recruits the Badgers have an outside shot at. West has the Badgers in his top four, but since he has never been to Madison, it's hard to see Wisconsin being the top choice. Kentucky is believed to be the favorite. Vincent, meanwhile, has been rumored to be a Penn State lean, but if he has a change of heart, the Badgers are right there along with Maryland, among others.
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