3/15/2015 football Edit

In-state countdown: 1 Ben Bredeson

Jon McNamara

BadgerBlitz.com Publisher

With Signing Day now in the books and spring camp set to open on March 15, BadgerBlitz.com will use the gap to count down the top 35 players in Wisconsin's 2016 class.

Rankings are based off in-person evaluations, film evaluations, recruiting attention and high school accolades.

Prospect: No. 1 Ben Bredeson

High School: Arrowhead

Height/Weight/Position: 6-foot-4, 280-pound offensive lineman

Offers from: Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Alabama, Stanford, Auburn, Iowa, Iowa State, LSU, Miami, Michigan State, Nebraska, N.C. State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Rutgers and Tennessee

Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame have long been considered Bredeson's top schools, but two more have recently entered the race.

"It's those four because I've been out there and love it there," Bredeson told Rivals.com. "Then, the other two would be Alabama and Stanford because, respectively, that's the mecca of football and the mecca of education. Those six are definitely separating themselves from everyone else right now.

"I am going to try to get out and see them. I don't know how easy that is going to be, but I am still learning more about them because we are building a relationship much later than (the other four). I was going to try to get to Alabama's spring game, but I don't have it figured out if I can make it yet."

The four-star prospect was recently in Madison and had a chance to meet with the Badgers' new coaching staff.

"I was just there two weeks ago and went up for the Michigan State basketball game," Bredeson said. "I got to officially meet everybody in-person. Coach (Joe) Rudolph and Coach (Paul) Chryst had come to the school before so I had known them, but just to meet everybody else that is involved was huge. They are all great people and have a huge passion for Wisconsin because the majority went through there. I really liked them a lot because they just have a passion for the program."

Bredeson, whose older brother, Jack, will play baseball at Michigan, does not have a timetable for a final decision.

"I don't want to be choosing on Signing Day because I don't think I could last that long," Bredeson said, "and I also want to help whatever school I go to and maybe affect some other kids to want to go there. In a perfect world I would want it to be done before the season or during the season, but I am going to try to take a few official visits."

Notables: Three-year varsity starter for powerhouse Arrowhead, which has made it to the Division 1 state title game all three seasons. First-team all-state selection who is the No. 41 player in the 2016 class, according to Rivals.com. Played with current Badgers George Panos, Billy Hirschfeld and Brady Kelliher at Arrowhead. Also a two-year varsity performer for the Warhawks' basketball team.