In-state look ahead: 20 to watch in the 2020 class (Part 2)

Wisconsin signed three scholarship prospects from inside the state - Julius Davis, Keeanu Benton and Leo Chenal - during college football's early signing period this month.

With that in mind, BadgerBlitz.com takes a look ahead at who could be in the same position a year from now in the 2020 cycle.

Note: Prospects are listed in no specific order. This is the second installment in a two-part series.

***PART ONE***

Committed to: Wisconsin

The word: Trey Wedig, a 6-foot-7, 302-pound four-star offensive tackle from Kettle Moraine High School, chose UW over offers from Iowa State, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Syracuse and USC this fall. Ultimately, his decision came down to the Badgers and Irish.

"I think it was relationships more than anything," 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."

The Rivals100 prospect is the No. 1 ranked in-state recruit in the 2020 class.

Committed to: Wisconsin

The word: Jack Nelson took an unofficial visit to Wisconsin in the fall of 2017, where he became the first in-state prospect in the 2020 class to earn an offer from the Badgers. And shortly after the Vikings' season ended, Nelson became commit No. 1 for Wisconsin in the 2020 cycle.

"Jack, obviously with his dad having played there, grew up going to a lot of Badger games, so it was a no-brainer for him," Stoughton head coach Dan Prahl told BadgerBlitz.com. "That's where he's always wanted to play college football. Once they offered, it was pretty much a done deal."

Committed to: Wisconsin

The word: At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, Ben Barten is currently being recruited as a "jumbo athlete" by the Wisconsin coaching staff. Assistants on both sides of the ball - offensive line coach Joe Rudolph and defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield - were able to evaluate the three-star prospect from Stratford High School during camp this past summer.

"As far as position they said it’s just a lineman thing, so it’s undecided and I'm unsure at the moment," Barten told BadgerBlitz.com. "I don't have a preference at all - I just want to play. The feedback from the coaches has been very positive. They like what they have seen from my film and it's awesome when I get to talk to them in person."

Offensively, Barten, who is also a standout basketball player, looks like a potential left tackle because of his footwork and athletic ability. He moves well, has good bend and gets out to the second level, a big reason why Barten's high school coach, Jason Tubbs, thinks he could play multiple spots on the offensive line.

"You think tackle for Ben, but I also think he could play guard or center in college because he reminds me a lot of (Tyler) Biadasz when we played against him at Amherst," Tubbs told BadgerBlitz.com. "He's just a very athletic kid with a high motor. Wisconsin can put him wherever they need him.

"Ben has a really high football IQ with a great motor. When you see his tape this year, you'll see him chase down guys 30 or 40 yards down the field on defense. As an offensive lineman, he's very physical and finishes all his blocks. He'll be good on either side."

Committed to: Iowa

The word: Michael Lois, who committed to the Hawkeyes on Labor Day weekend, suffered a serious spinal injury in a pool accident on Sept. 16 that left him with three broken vertebrae and the fear that he may never walk again, at least initially.

But, after three surgeries and weeks of physical therapy that will remain ongoing, Lois was back in Iowa City this fall, walking onto the field at Kinnick Stadium and standing on the sidelines for pre-game warmups with the other recruits in attendance.

“It felt great to be back,” Lois told Rivals.com. “It was nice to see the coaches and some of the other commits after the accident. They’ve been awesome and very supportive throughout my injury.

“At this point, there hasn’t been any talk about not playing. Iowa’s coaching staff and program are behind me. They’ve told me to take my time in recovery and make sure that I get healed right.”

-Blair Sanderson, HawkeyeReport.com

Offers from: Iowa and Northern Illinois

The word: Kimberly has annually produced some of the top talent inside the state, and the 2018 team featured a handful of Division 1 prospects. Atop that list is Logan Wilson, who currently has offers from Iowa and Northern Illinois. The three-star prospect camped at UW this past summer and is someone the staff will continue to monitor.

"I feel like it went really well," Wilson told BadgerBlitz.com this summer. "I felt good going in and was ready to show off what I had. Starting with the warm-up, I knew it was going be a good day.

"Coach Nokes (Breckterfield) told me he liked my ability to step in against any opponent, even if I was outsized, and that I didn’t mind getting dirty and being scrappy. Coach (Aairon) Savage from Northern Iowa gave me a card and told me he’d like to keep in touch as well."

Interest from: Iowa, South Dakota State and Wisconsin

The word: Projected outside linebacker Cole Dakovich is another Catholic Memorial prospect the Wisconsin coaching staff is taking a long look at. After not playing football as a freshman and sophomore, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound junior is attracting attention from a handful of schools from across the Midwest. Dakovich, who had 105 total tackles, two sacks and two interceptions for the Crusaders in 2018, visited Wisconsin this fall.

"The coaches said they liked my highlight film and they would stay on top of me," Dakovich told BadgerBlitz.com. "Growing up our family always followed the Badgers."

Offers from: Iowa State and Nebraska

The word: Linebacker Ben Kreul, who has already taken three unofficial visits to Nebraska, had 145 total tackles, two sacks and two interceptions for Catholic Memorial, which captured a WIAA Division 3 state title this fall.

"I talked with coach Barrett Ruud and I really like him as a coach," Kreul told Rivals.com. "It's nice to have a guy who has been in your shoes and knows what you're going through. He went to the NFL and was very successful in college.

"As a recruit, that is something that definitely appeals to me. I also talked to Sean Dillon. He's been helpful throughout my process with Nebraska and it was good to talk to him. He's a really nice guy that seems to care a lot about the players."

Interest from: Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, South Dakota, South Dakota State and Wisconsin

The word: Chimere Dike, who had 79 receptions for 1,091 yards and 12 touchdowns for Waukesha North this fall, took in Wisconsin's win over Illinois this fall.

"The visit was great," Dike told BadgerBlitz.com. "We had a pre-game tailgate then went onto the the field. Then we got to watch the game, which was amazing. The atmosphere at Camp Randall is special. Then after we got to go back and talk to some coaches.

"The coaches said I had a good season and they liked that I kept playing better as the season went on. They also said they like that I play multiple sports and to not lose sight of that because a lot of kids do. Then they said that they will be in contact with me in the future.

"The coaches were really attentive and interactive with the recruits. They talked about things more than just football, like how they would develop you as a student and a person."

Outside of UW, Dike, who also visited another Big Ten school this fall, is hearing from a handful of other schools.

"Ohio State, Iowa State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Nebraska, Michigan State and Iowa have all reached out in the spring or summer time," Dike said. "I visited Ohio State the weekend before Wisconsin and it was incredible. The atmosphere and culture they have there as a program is amazing. Winning is an expectation - I think that really stuck out to me. You could tell how much their fans and team cared through the atmosphere of the stadium."

Interest from: South Dakota State, Western Michigan and Wisconsin

The word: Rasahd Lampkin flew a bit under the recruiting radar for much of his junior season. But late this fall, the Badgers hosted the 2020 running back from Brookfield Central, who rushed for over 2,200 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2018. South Dakota State and Western Michigan are also showing interest.

Interest from: Minnesota and Wisconsin

The word: The first recruiting visit for Amaun Williams, a junior defensive back from Milwaukee Riverside High School, was a big one. At the start of the fall, the 5-foot-8, 155-pound in-state prospect took an unofficial visit to Wisconsin for the Badgers' win over New Mexico.

"The Wisconsin visit was a dream come true - it was my first time attending a college football game," Williams told BadgerBlitz.com. "Being with the players and around an atmosphere with lots of joyful people made it feel like home and a place I would want to be."

Williams was an AP All-State selection as a junior.