Better Know a Badger: Cade Green
The Wisconsin Badgers will welcome their 2017 signing class to campus in mid-June, so BadgerBlitz.com will be checking in with the team's incoming freshmen as they make the jump from being high school prospects to a Wisconsin student-athlete.
Cade Green, a 6-foot, 188-pound wide receiver from Lake Travis High School near Austin, Texas, spoke with BadgerBlitz.com about how he's feeling now that his career with the Badgers is right around the corner.
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So what was it like for you to finally put National Signing Day behind you and send in your letter of intent? Were you excited to wrap things up or nervous to start a new chapter in your life?
Cade Green: I think it was a little bit of both, honestly. I was nervous for never having had that experience before - that's always nerve-wracking. But I was more excited to just get that weight off of my shoulders and really just finally be a part of the Badger program. More than just a verbal commitment. I was very excited to get that done and really begin the process of preparing myself the best that I can for when I get up there to go and compete and contribute to the team.
Did you have any expectations for what the recruiting process would be like? And how did the real thing stack up with what you expected? Did you have any one that you knew go through the same thing that you could talk to about it?
CG: I've seen guys go through the process - teammates who were older than me and whatnot. And I'd heard about and watched other guys committing and whatnot. But I honestly really had no idea of what to expect because really the recruiting process is different for everybody and every player. I personally had no idea what to expect. It all really does happen pretty fast. There's not a lot of time. It's a great process overall and I hope everyone gets a chance to go through it for just a little bit if they are lucky enough. I makes you feel good about yourself that you've accomplsihed something and that perople are recognizing that and are willing to put their neck out for you to give you an offer. To say 'Hey, we really think you're a good fit to come represent our school.'
It's also a tad stressful because you build relationships during the recruiting process and once it comes down to when you decide where you want to go, it's not necessarily hard to let other schools know but you feel a little bit bad that you're letting those other schools down. Overall it's a great process - I'm every happy with how mine went.
What was it about Wisconsin and the Badgers that made it such a good fit for you? Were they on your radar at all when things got started?
CG: Honestly at the start of the process I didn't even think about Wisconsin. I had friends that had gone there and whatnot and told me what a great place it was but I never thought that opportunity wold be presented to me. Once it was presented I was beyond excited. I was very eager to get up there and visit and see what it was like with my own eyes and meet everybody. Once I did that I think that's what sealed the deal for me. I had an idea of what it would be going in - I did some research and heard about the school and whatnot. But really getting up there and seeing it for myself and interacting with the coaches on my visit, I think that is really what sold it for me. Once you know, you know. (I knew) the other coaches were going to be disappointed, but it was the best decision for me.
I know some guys still get a lot of recruiting attention even after they commit - were there schools that still wanted to keep in touch with you even after you committed to Wisconsin?
CG: I didn't have that issue very much. New Mexico offered me the next week - they messaged me on Twitter and said 'Congrats on your commitment to Wisconsin, we'd love to add New Mexico to your offer list.' I just replied and said thank you very much, and never heard another word from them. SMU recruited me a little bit before my commitment, and then after my commitment they were on campus and saw me and jumped on me after that - told me I had a spot until signing day and I never really communicated with them. Houston was talking to me a little bit, nothing major though - (I) only got one message from them.
High school football in Texas is obviously a pretty big deal down there. Do you think playing on a bit of a bigger stage like that could help you ease the transition between high school and college ball?
CG: High school football in Texas - it's like nowhere else. They treat it like college as much as possible, especially where I am in Lake Travis. It's pretty much a college program, so I've been very well prepared to take the next step. There's no real offseason (here) - you're either doing 7-on-7 or spring ball - you're constantly playing football, watching film and whatnot. It's crazy - like nowhere else. I think it could really give me a leg up.
What would you say you are looking forward to the most about getting up to Madison and starting your college career with the Badgers?
CG: It's a little bit of everything, but I think getting a chance to go somewhere new and get a fresh start is big. Getting a chance to start working out and start seeing where I fit and start proving myself, because you can do all of the stuff to prepare yourself, but you really can't match the intensity of what it's like to actually be there and compete for a spot. I'm probably most excited for that.
Do you have any specific goals for this season when it comes to playing time or earning a spot or anything like that?
CG: I definitely would like to prove myself and what I'm there for, and earn a spot if it's right. Whatever I can do to contribute, (I just want to) go up there and show what I'm all about and have an impact on the team - whatever that might be.
Now that it's all almost behind you, do you have any advice for younger teammates about how they should go through their recruitments? Or is there anything you wish you'd known at the start of the process that you know now?
CG: Honestly I'd say just to have no regrets. Everybody is in it for the big offer - they want to get the biggest offer possible, but it's not all about that. That's not really what matters. It's about finding the right school for you and the right fit for you. Some guys wait around for an offer and they're like 'Oh I really like it' and they visit but just wait around to see if other schools are going to offer. It's not about that. It's about trying to find the right place for you, no matter if that's a big Division I school or a smaller Division III school. You've got to find the right fit for you and stick with your decision. Make that choice and be confident - don't second guess yourself.
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John Veldhuis covers Wisconsin football, basketball and recruiting for BadgerBlitz.com on the Rivals.com network. Follow him on Twitter at @JohnVeldhuis.