2/7/2018 football Edit

DB Rachad Wildgoose puts finishing touch on UW's 2018 class comes from

Jon McNamara • BadgerBlitz

Editor

Jon McNamara is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has covered UW athletics since 2002 and has worked at Rivals.com since 2006.

After it inked 19 athletes during the early signing period in December, the Wisconsin coaching added the final piece to their 2018 recruiting class this past weekend.

During an official visit to Madison, three-star defensive back Rachad Wildgoose committed to head coach Paul Chryst and the Badgers. He made the news public and signed with UW on Wednesday.

"Rachad is an incredible leader that loves to compete," Jim Leonhard said in a release. "He has great knowledge of the corner position and has a versatile skill set. I look forward to helping him reach all of his goals here at Wisconsin."

A 6-foot, 185-pound senior from Northwestern High School in Florida, Wildgoose, who could play corner or safety when he arrives on campus, also took official visits to Georgia, UCF, Pittsburgh and North Carolina State.

During his recruitment, Wildgoose made an early commitment to Rutgers before backing off that pledge last April after picking up offers from Wisconsin, Georgia, Oregon State and N.C. State, among others. In early June, the Bulldogs received a pledge from Wildgoose, but that relationship came to an end last month during his official visit.

Wildgoose joins an already talented class of cornerbacks for Wisconsin that also includes Donte Burton (early enrollee), Travian Blaylock and Alex Smith. With two starters from this past fall no longer with the program - Nick Nelson (left early for the NFL) and Derrick Tindal (graduation) - all four will be given an opportunity to play early under Leonhard.

In 2017, Wildgoose was part of a loaded secondary for Northwestern that also included Miami commit Nigel Bethel and Florida signee Divaad Wilson. The Bulls won Florida's Class 6A state title.

Finally, Wildgoose's commitment keeps UW's streak of signing players from Florida alive. The last time the Badgers didn't sign a player from the Sunshine State was in 2004, the same year Bret Bielema joined the staff and started to give Wisconsin a strong presence in the talent-rich territory.