Better Know a Badger: Danny Vanden Boom
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.
Danny Vanden Boom, a two-star quarterback from Kimberly, Wis., 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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What's life been like for you since National Signing Day in February? Does it feel like your college career is just around the corner or is it still a little hard to believe?
Danny Vanden Boom: Yeah, for so long it has seemed like college has been so far away. Now it’s just over a week or under two weeks here. It’s really exciting to be able to go and be with those coaches and the guys in a little while here. I’m really excited to watch some film and just be with the guys – it’s a great group, and that’s ultimately what made me choose Wisconsin – the people.
You had some obvious ties to Wisconsin - both from family and as an in-state prospect. Was Wisconsin always going to be high up on your list in your recruitment? Or did everyone start off on a level playing field?
DVB: It really was always going to be high up there. I could sit here and tell you that it was not, but I’d be lying. I grew up going to Wisconsin games. I’ve always enjoyed my time in Madison. I did go in to the process hoping that maybe my landing spot would be Wisconsin, but I did go in with an open mind. Like I said, the people were the selling point at the end of the day. Coach Chryst is unbelievable, obviously with his football knowledge, but he’s also a great guy. It’s those down-to-earth people that make up the program that make it so special.
Did your family try to help recruit you to Wisconsin or did they give you some space to really go out and make a decision on your own?
DVB: They respected my decision and my choice. They gave me advice, certainly, but they would never point me in one way or another unless they knew that it was what I wanted. I really do feel like I made the best decision at the end of the day. I’m excited to go in and start playing some football finally. Last football season feels like it was too long ago. I love baseball and basketball, but I’m really excited for another football season.
Do you think you'll miss playing basketball and football once you get to college? Or are you more excited to have picked something to focus on and give it 100 percent?
DVB: I feel like it’s a bit of a mix. I certainly enjoy playing basketball and baseball as well. If I could do it all over again I would still definitely be a three-sport guy. I can’t imagine my life so far without those three sports. But at the same time I think it’s exciting to hone in on one sport and see how far I can take that. Getting in the weight room in the offseason and really focusing, mentally and physically, on football and just seeing how that goes. I’m excited about getting there and seeing how far I can take it.
Do you remember a point where you realized that football was going to be the best path for you? Or a time when you realized that you could play at the next level if you kept working in high school?
DVB: Not that I can recall. For a while I really thought that I wanted to play basketball in college. I played AAU my freshman year, and it was up through then when I really thought I was going to be a basketball player. I even recall thinking for a while that I would play baseball in college. But once junior year hit and I was able to be the starter for our Kimberly football team, I think that’s when my mind shifted to ‘Ok, football’s my love, I want to see what I can do at the next level.’
What are you looking forward to the most about getting on to campus and becoming an official part of the team?
DVB: I feel like getting there and being with the guys and forming relationships with everyone and getting comfortable with the playbook – I’ve already had an opportunity to get a look at some of the formations. That’s a big part of getting comfortable there. As far as challenges, I think getting away from mom and dad – they’ve been with me and spoiling me for too long. I’m looking forward to living on my own a little bit and making some of my own meals – I think it will be a really good experience.
Did you ever think about trying to enroll early at Wisconsin?
DVB: It really wasn’t something that we seriously entertained. I had been asked a couple of times by people in the community if I was going to be enrolling early. The first couple times I was asked I kinda laughed – like I didn’t even think about it. I just assumed I was going to be around playing basketball and baseball. It’s a legitimate option, but in my case I think it was the best for me to become the best athlete and person I can be.
From a coaching perspective, what do you think it will be like to go and work with coach Chryst and coach Budmyar after developing that personal relationship with them during your recruitment?
DVB: They were two pretty darn good quarterbacks in their own right and they know how to play the position. I’m looking forward to getting tips from them. I’m going to go in with a very open mind. I’m excited to hear a different perspective. I’ve been working with coach Jones here at Kimberly and he’s been spectacular. But to hear different perspectives and different ways of doing things, I think that will only make me a better player.
Is the plan for you to still get on campus as a walk-on this fall and go on scholarship in your second semester? Was that always the plan or did something change as Signing Day got closer?
DVB: Yep that’s the plan. Ever since that first workout when I was working out for coach Chryst and coach Budmayr, right after that they laid down the groundwork there and said I would be walking on for the first semester and that scholarship would be coming in January of 2018. That’s been the plan ever since.
Now that your recruitment is over, is there any advice you'd like to give to friends or teammates who will be recruited during their careers? What do you wish you'd known at the start of the recruiting process?
DVB: One thing is for sure and that’s you’re never going to be comfortable. I was never comfortable with the idea of having to put myself out there and put myself in front of all those coaches. I kind of had the mindset that I would just play my game and they’d come and watch me. But you’ve really got to go out there and promote yourself. I like to think that I’m a humble guy, and for me that was really weird that I had to go and promote myself. But if you want to do it right you’ve got to go and do those camps and be willing to promote yourself a bit. And another thing I’d say is that playing multiple sports is key. I heard from a lot of coaches who said that they look for guys who can do multiple things and play multiple sports. That’s probably the biggest piece of advice.
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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.