Badgers add first preferred walk-on in 16
In-state senior Aaron Maternowski became the first known preferred walk-on commitment for Wisconsin in the 2016 recruiting class.
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With his pledge, Maternowski, a 6-foot-1, 250-pound athlete form Slinger (WI), will in his father's footsteps in Madison. Curt Maternowski played for the Badgers from 1988-1991.
"It's really awesome to be able to play where my dad played," Aaron Maternowski told BadgerBlitz.com. "It's always a good thing to make your father proud."
A four-year varsity performer for the Owls, Maternowski recently earned WFCA all-state honors as a defensive lineman, along with fellow UW commit Tyler Biadasz. Maternowski, however, is expected to begin at fullback for position coach John Settle, who is set to lose seniors Derek Watt and Derek Straus to graduation.
"They said that I will be coming in as a fullback," said Maternowski, who worked at that position during UW's camp this past summer. "It isn't set in stone because linebacker is also a position they will try me at.
"I'm very comfortable at either one of those positions because with my athletic ability, I believe I can play at whatever position they want me at."
With just Austin Ramesh returning at fullback -- and Alec Ingold's expected move to the position from tailback -- Maternowski should have an opportunity to contribute early in his career.
"The staff was really excited when I told them I wanted to commit," Maternowski said. "They said that I will immediately affect the program.
"Wisconsin is an amazing atmosphere along with great academics. Also, Wisconsin has a very good football program, which I feel fits me as an athlete."
Last May in Chicago, Maternowski, who was also hearing from North Dakota, North Dakota State and Southern Illinois, among other schools, registered a SPARQ-verified 4.78-second 40-yard dash with 32-inch vertical jump.