The Class of 2013 was certainly an interesting one for the Wisconsin Badgers. Many of the players were recruited by and committed to Bret Bielema and his staff. But when he left to take the Arkansas job in December of 2012, Gary Andersen was tasked with not only hanging onto the current commits, but putting the finishing touches on this cycle.
"Bielema's departure has a chance to devastate Wisconsin's recruiting in the short term because it was so sudden, so unexpected," Rivals.com Midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt said at the time. "The Wisconsin commits I have spoken with since the news came out are just in shock. I expect a larger number of de-commitments than we see in an average coaching change."
RELATED: CLASS OF 2011 | CLASS OF 2012 |
Note: Prospects are listed in the order of their commitment to UW.
Typically, the first prospect to commit to Wisconsin in each recruiting cycle comes from inside the state. But that wasn't the case in 2013 (either time, actually, because Scott Orndoff was technically No. 1), when roughly one week after taking an unofficial visit to UW for a junior day in February of 2012, Garret Dooley gave a verbal commitment to the Badgers. Wisconsin had to fend off late pushes from Penn State and Vanderbilt to hold onto Dooley's commitment later in the process.
Another interesting tidbit when looking at Dooley commitment: Bielema stressing to him (and other recruits in the 2013 class) about the lack of scholarships available. In the end, the Badgers signed 19 prospects, which is pretty close to the average each year. Just an example that those numbers are always changing and are never set in stone.
"The coaches at Wisconsin made it clear that they have limited number of scholarships at my position and that was a factor for me to move up my decision," Dooley told Rivals.com. "I just couldn't handle it if I waited to commit and Wisconsin got another commitment instead of my commitment. I knew that Wisconsin was the place for me so why wait to decide? It's really a can't lose decision for me and I'm just really excited about Wisconsin."
The third and final Watt brother, T.J. Watt was a high school quarterback (i.e. just put the best athlete under center if you don't have one) but was recruited by the Badgers to play tight end. I remember confirming the commitment news while the Watts were on a family cruise. It was, essentially, "yes, he committed, now we're going to get back to our vacation." But I was able to speak with Clay Iverson, who coached J.J., Derek and T.J. at Pewaukee, soon after.
"Number one they're getting a kid that's got unlimited potential. He's obviously going to be one of the best players in the state next year and that's saying a lot. There are a lot of good seniors next year and he'll be right up there with any of them. His best football is probably when he's 19 or 20 years old. He's got a big frame and he's still going to need that frame. They're getting a kid that's going to be able to play fairly soon but when he matures into that body, he's going to be just outstanding. He's also going to have all the intangibles that his two older brothers have. He's a great competitor, hard working and incredibly coachable."
Wisconsin was offer No. 1 for Rob Wheelwright, who turned heads at the Badgers' summer camp in 2011. Roughly a year later during UW's spring game, the three-star prospect committed to UW over offers from Michigan, Nebraska, Pittsburgh and Illinois, among others. Wheelwright was supposed to the big-time wide out the Badgers always came up short for, but injuries limited his progress during his time in Madison.
I remember going to watch a Brookfield Central game to scout a different prospect in 2010 but writing the name "Chikwe Obasih" into a notebook. That was Obasih's sophomore year and he really jumped out as someone who could be a special football player. Iowa, the university Obasih's father attended for graduate school, was probably the biggest threat to Wisconsin in his recruitment. But the Badgers, led by former Brookfield Central standout Ben Strickland, were always the favorite. Another note on Obasih: He was the leader who really helped keep this class together during the coaching transition period.
