Countdown to Kickoff: Ranking the 2020 in-state class (1-5)

With high school football set to begin in Wisconsin in less than one month, BadgerBlitz.com ranked the top 50 in-state prospects from a very strong 2020 class.

Rankings are based on film, in-person evaluations and feedback from coaches and players. Five athletes will be released each day until the conclusion of the series.

RELATED: 46 to 50 | 41 to 45 | 36 to 40 | 31-35 | 26-30 | 21-25 | 16-20 | 11-15 | 6-10 |

Committed to: Wisconsin

Related: 2020 lineman Ben Barten looking to make decision after junior season | Coach on Ben Barten: "Wisconsin can put him wherever they need him" | Commitment 101: Ben Barten |

The word: It was a battle between Wisconsin and Iowa for two-way lineman Ben Barten. In the end, the Badgers topped the Hawkeyes for the three-star prospect from Stratford High School.

"Ben loved Iowa. Coach (Tim) Polasek and those guys have been nothing but class acts down there," Stratford head coach Jason Tubbs told BadgerBlitz.com. "I got a chance to go down there with them to see the facilities and they were great hosts.

"But I think Wisconsin was more of his passion being an in-state kid. He loved the idea of his friends and family being able to see him play just a couple of hours away from home."

Barten, who will likely begin as an offensive lineman at UW, camped with the Badgers twice last summer.

"Ben went down there for Wisconsin's camp two weeks in a row - one for offense and one for defense," Tubbs said. 'He did really well against their 2019 recruits and it kind of went from there. I don't think he's done growing, to be honest with you. His dad is 6-foot-6 and Ben is 6-foot-5 and doesn't shave a lot. To me, he's already a solid 255 pounds and I could see him getting up to 305, or so.

"He reminds of the big, strong kids who end up at Wisconsin. And he's not a heavy-set kid who is 300 pounds in high school. He's got a great frame to add more good weight."

Committed to: Wisconsin

Related: Wisconsin is offer No. 1 for in-state OLB Cole Dakovich | Commitment 101: Cole Dakovich | Cole Dakovich "cannot wait to get to Wisconsin" after official visit |

The word: Cole Dakovich, who didn't play football as a freshman or sophomore, picked up his first offer from Wisconsin in January. And it took the three-star prospect from Waukesha Catholic Memorial less than a week to add his name to the Badgers' 2020 recruiting class.

Dakovich, who had 105 total tackles, two sacks and two interceptions for the state champion Crusaders this past fall, will likely begin as a tight end at Wisconsin.

“I think now it's definitely more focused on tight end," Dakovich told BadgerBlitz.com. "I think that’s where I’m going to end up, but there’s still a lot can change between now and then."

Committed to: Wisconsin

Related: Commitment 101: Chimere Dike | Coach: Badgers getting a "well-rounded athlete" in Chimere Dike | 2020 WR Chimere Dike "locked down with Wisconsin" |

The word: Chimere Dike, who had 79 receptions for 1,091 yards and 12 touchdowns in just nine games this past fall, committed to Wisconsin in January over an offer from Iowa State. He also competes in track, basketball and baseball at Waukesha North.

"I think it's always been a dream of his - if Wisconsin offered it was going to be his place," Waukesha North head coach Matt Harris told BadgerBlitz.com. "The recruiting process was tough for him because he got invited to so many places, but a lot of schools were taking their time. There were a lot of schools that he really liked, but having known him since seventh grade, Wisconsin was home. And once he heard, 'Hey, we want you at Wisconsin,' that pretty much sealed the deal. It was hard to let the other schools know because he's such a wonderful kid, but he had to let some schools down. It's a business decision and he made the best decision for him and his family.

"Chimere is a great football player, but there are tons of great football players out there. So once Coach (Paul) Chyrst got to know him, he found out that Chimere is what being a Badger is all about. He has great grades, a great personality and is a leader for us, so he has all the character things you're looking for. I told Coach Chryst that everyone thinks their kids are great, but I want you to see for yourself. So he came to basketball practices and games and he saw those qualities in person. I think that's what swayed their decision and made them move in the direction that they did. You don't find characters like Chimere too often. He has been a culture-changer for us. I think that was more important to them than 1,000 yards and however many catches he had. He's just a great person."

Committed to: Wisconsin

Related: Coach: Despite age, Jack Nelson already a veteran OL for Stoughton | Week 7 In-State Blitz: 2020 OL Jack Nelson | Official visit reinforces OL Jack Nelson's commitment to Wisconsin |

The word: Commit No. 1 for Wisconsin in the 2020 class, Jack Nelson, a Badgers' legacy, committed to UW in October of 2017. His father, Todd Nelson, who played at Wisconsin in the late 1980s.

"I have known I wanted to be a Badger all my life," Nelson told BadgerBlitz.com. "Also, being on the line, Wisconsin stands out from any other school.

"They said they liked my speed of the ball and that I block to the whistle. The coaches were very happy when I told them and excited for my future. They just said to keep working and developing as a football player and student."

Nelson, a three-star prospect, took his official visit to Wisconsin in June.

“That just reinforced my decision a hundred times over. Just an incredible place, incredible people, I really can’t wait for this next chapter to start," Nelson told BadgerBlitz.com. "Again, I have no regrets whatsoever of committing so early. I’m really glad I committed really early. I don’t have a problem with anything.

"I think it’s a great place, great people, great commits, too. Great players already - I met a lot of the guys. Committing early, I have no regrets about that."

Committed to: Wisconsin

Related: Badgers keep four-star OL Trey Wedig inside the state | Commitment 101: Trey Wedig | Coach: "I think Trey (Wedig) is a kid who we will see play on Sundays" |

The word: The top prospect in Wisconsin's 2020 in-state class is Trey Wedig, a four-star talent and Rivals100 member. Iowa State, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Tennessee and USC all offered Wedig before he committed to UW last September.

"I think it was relationships more than anything," former Kettle Moraine head coach Justin Gumm told BadgerBlitz.com. "I think the whole time it was really a two-horse race even though he had all the offers that he did. He really liked Notre Dame and he really liked Wisconsin. With Notre Dame, the big draw there is obviously the academic side of things, the networking, resources and prestige.

"But in the end it was the relationships that he built with Wisconsin and the coaching staff. Their consistency and how adamant they were about him being a Badger really stood out. Their staff has been phenomenal with our staff and our kids. They are very genuine and Trey felt they cared about him as a human being and not just a football player."