Countdown to Kickoff: Ranking the 2020 in-state class (21-25)
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.
No. 25: Offensive tackle Tanner Wigand
Committed to: Toledo
The word: A prospect who kept a very low public profile on the recruiting front, Tanner Wigand committed to Toledo this summer. Wisconsin and Iowa, among others schools, were also interested in the projected tackle from Manitowoc Lincoln.
No. 24: Running back Rashad Lampkin
Offers from: Eastern Illinois, Georgetown, Illinois State, Indiana State, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Dakota State and Western Illinois
Related: Week 6 In-State Blitz: 2020 RB Rashad Lampkin | 2020 RB Rashad Lampkin's recruitment heats up after big junior season |
The word: Arguably the top running back prospect in the state, Rashad Lampkin, a WFCA Large School all-state pick last fall, rushed for 2,217 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior. Lampkin camped with the Badgers this summer and is still in steady contact with UW.
"Schools that stand out to me right now are Illinois State and South Dakota State," Lampkin told BadgerBlitz.com. "A decision for me should come early into my senior year. Schools that haven’t offered but remain high on my list include Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and Wyoming. I’m also beginning to get some southern looks from Tennessee State and North Texas, but not much buzz there."
No. 23: Offensive lineman Evan Buss
Committed to: Northern Illinois
Related: In-state OL Evan Buss hoping to hear more from UW in the future
The word: Evan Buss, a Northern Illinois commit, played center for powerhouse Kimberly High School in 2018. He chose the Huskies this summer over offers from Ball State, Colgate, Columbia, Eastern Kentucky, Fordham, Illinois State, Kent State, New Mexico State and South Dakota.
No. 22: Linebacker Riley Nowakowski
Offers from: Air Force, Army, Brown, Central Michigan, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Lafayette, Navy, Northern Illinois, Princeton, South Dakota State, Yale and Wisconsin (preferred walk-on)
Related: Two Big Ten schools in early on 2020 OLB Riley Nowakowski
The word: Part of a loaded linebacker core returning for Marquette, Riley Nowakowski racked up 111 total tackles during a first-team all-conference junior season. And after camping at Wisconsin in June, the Badgers are trying to get Nowakowski to join their 2020 class as a preferred walk-on.
"Everything’s going good right now," Nowakowski told BadgeBlitz.com. "I do not have any visits planned right now but I have received a lot of interest from Iowa as a defensive end and also picked up a preferred walk-on from Wisconsin after camp. I don’t have any timetable on a decision at this point - just seeing how the season goes."
No. 21: Tight end Davis Heinzen
Committed to: Central Michigan
Related: Badgers make three visits to see 2020 in-state TE Davis Heinzen | What We Learned: Chicagoland prospects stand out over weekend |
The word: Central Michigan commit Davis Heinzen caught 27 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns as a junior. The three-star prospect also had scholarships from Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Minnesota State-Mankato, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southeast Missouri State, Southwest Minnesota State and Western Illinois.
"The recruiting process has been an exciting but difficult journey," Heinzen told BadgerBlitz.com. "Central Michigan stood out first of all because they are a great engineering school. Also when I visited their camp, I was convinced that their coaching staff will get the most out of me as a player. CMU also fulfills my dream of playing tight end at the highest possible level, the FBS. Lastly, it's a bonus that is fairly close to home. I am very excited about being a Chippewa."
Prior to his commitment, Heinzen was one of the top performers at the EDGYTIM Showcase in Chicago this past winter.
"One of the out-of-state attendees who showed out at the was Davis Heinzenfrom Manitowoc (Wisc.) Lincoln. At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds Heinzen has ideal size for the tight end position and has excellent athleticism and quickness for the position. Programs such as Minnesota and Wisconsin are evaluating Heinzen, but he has yet to land his first offer."