With Wisconsin sitting on 18 commitments in the 2018 class, BadgerBlitz.com takes a look at what's left - if anything - to accomplish in the current cycle.
QUARTERBACK
How many will they take? Wisconsin is expected to take one quarterback in the 2018 class.
Who do they already have? The Badgers have a commitment from three-star Chase Wolf.
Scholarships seniors: Zero
What's next?
Chase Wolf will almost certainly be Wisconsin's lone scholarship quarterback in the 2018 class. The three-star senior from Ohio chose UW over offers from South Carolina, Boston College, Pittsburgh and Florida, among others, in May.
RUNNING BACK
How many will they take? Wisconsin is expected to take one tailback in the 2018 class.
Who do they already have? The Badgers have a commitment from tailback Nakia Watson.
Scholarships seniors: Fullback Austin Ramesh and tailback Rachid Ibrahim
What's next?
The Badgers were in the mix for a handful of intriguing tailback prospects, but Nakia Watson secured his spot in Wisconsin's class during an unofficial visit in June. The three-star back from Westlake High School, who rushed for over 1,600 yards and 22 touchdowns last fall, chose the Badgers over offers from Bowling Green, Harvard, Central Arkansas, Harvard, North Texas and Nevada.
WIDE RECEIVERS
How many will they take? Wisconsin is expected to take three wide receivers in the 2018 class.
Who do they already have? The Badgers have commitments from projected wide receivers A.J. Abbott, Taj Mustapha and Aron Cruickshank.
Scholarships seniors: George Rushing, Jazz Peavy
What's next?
Wisconsin started June without a commitment at the position but ended the month at capacity. Michigan teammates Taj Mustapha and A.J. Abbott from West Bloomfield High School picked up offers at camp and committed days later. And at the close of June, the Badgers landed speedster Aron Cruickshank, who will give UW a versatile playmaker on offense and special teams.
TIGHT END
How many will they take? Wisconsin is expected to take two tight end in the 2018 class.
Who do they already have? The Badgers have commitments from projected tight ends Jaylan Franklin and Cormac Sampson.
Scholarships seniors: Troy Fumagalli
What's next?
Jaylan Franklin took part in Wisconsin's camp on June 9. Three days later, the three-star senior committed to the Badgers over offers from Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Michigan State and Kentucky, among others.
"I think I wanted to secure my spot more than anything," Franklin told BadgerBlitz.com. "I had already missed out on an opportunity with Northwestern filling up their class. So I wanted to jump on this as soon as everything felt right.
"I feel like the schools who have wanted me most have been doing just that. After the visit to Wisconsin I felt best with making this decision."
Cormac Sampson was initially being recruited as an athlete who could play either defensive end or tight end. But during camp this summer, the three-star prospect caught passes for tight ends coaches Mickey Turner and his official offer listed his projected position as TE.
OFFENSIVE LINE
How many will they take? Wisconsin is expected to take one offensive lineman in the 2018 class.
Who do they already have? The Badgers have a commitment from three-star offensive lineman Michael Furtney.
Scholarships seniors: Zero
What's next?
Wisconsin's scholarship numbers on the offensive line are finally getting to a healthy state after signing four in the 2017 class. Projected tackle Michael Furtney, who committed in March, is expected to be the lone lineman in the 2018 cycle after in-state standout Jack Plumb announced his commitment to Iowa in late June.
Though he's considered a strong Ohio State lean, five-star tackle Jackson Carman will likely visit Wisconsin officially this fall. From Rivals.com's Josh Helmholdt:
Clemson, Florida State, Ohio State, USC and Wisconsin are the top five schools for Carman heading into his senior season. Carman has yet to visit Florida State or Wisconsin during the recruiting process, but he made a spring visit to Clemson, he spent four days at USC in June and, most recently, attended Ohio State’s Friday Night Lights Camp on July 21.
“He certainly has a top five in his mind right now. He is not ready to say that’s his final five, but he’s got five that are ahead of the pack. At the end of the summer he is going to narrow it down to five for sure and let everyone know before recruiting starts in September.” –Fairfield head coach Jason Krause
DEFENSIVE LINE
How many will they take? Wisconsin is expected to take three defensive linemen in the 2018 class.
Who do they already have? The Badgers have commitments from projected defensive ends Boyd Dietzen and Isaiah Mullens, as well as projected tackle Bryson Williams.
Scholarships seniors: Chikwe Obasih, Alec James, Conor Sheehy
What's next?
Position coach Inoke Breckterfield landed the final piece on the defensive line in July when three-star Bryson Williams committed to the Badgers. He joins projected ends Boyd Dietzen and Isaiah Mullens in UW's 2018 class.
Despite being at capacity, keep an eye on nose tackle Tyler Bentley. The three-star prospect from Ohio is currently committed to Kentucky but official visits to Wisconsin and Pittsburgh are on his agenda this fall. The Badgers would certainly make room for an athlete of his caliber at such a crucial position.
LINEBACKERS
How many will they take? Wisconsin is expected to take three linebackers in the 2018 class.
Who do they already have? The Badgers have commitments from projected outside linebackers CJ Goetz and Mason Platter, as well as inside backer Jack Sanborn.
Committed preferred walk-on: Marty Strey
Scholarships seniors: Garret Dooley, Jack Cichy, Leon Jacobs
What's next?
With commitments from CJ Goetz, Mason Platter and Jack Sanborn, along with Marty Strey as a preferred walk-on, Wisconsin is set at linebacker in this class. It will be interesting to see if the staff keeps tabs on David Alston this fall, but at this point, UW is full at the position.
SAFETIES
How many will they take? Wisconsin is expected to take one safety in the 2018 class.
Who do they already have? The Badgers have a commitment from three-star Reggie Pearson.
Scholarships seniors: Joe Ferguson
What's next?
The safety position experienced a bit of a shakeup this summer. Long-time in-state commit Trent Ingalls is no longer of a member of Wisconsin's 2018 class and is not expected to play football beyond high school. Reggie Pearson, though, is still rock solid in his pledge to the Badgers. It is not yet known if UW will actively look to replace Ingalls in this class.
CORNERBACKS
How many will they take? Wisconsin is expected to take two cornerbacks in the 2018 class.
Who do they already have? The Badgers have commitments from projected cornerbacks Alex Smith and Travian Blaylock.
Scholarships seniors: Derrick Tindal, Natrell Jamerson and Lubern Fiagro
What's next?
After Alex Smith's commitment during an unofficial visit in June, Wisconsin had room for one more cornerback. And that spot was quickly scooped up Trayvian Blaylock, who chose UW over Stanford in early July. He was Wisconsin's most recent commitment in this class.
There is some strong buzz surrounding four-star corner Jairus Brents, who visited Madison last fall and recently listed the Badgers in his top 10. If he can clear a hurdle on his end, position coach Jim Leonhard may turn up the heat on the Kentucky standout.
ATHLETES
How many will they take? Wisconsin is expected to take one athlete in the 2018 class.
Who do they already have? The Badgers have a commitment Isaac Guerendo.
Scholarships seniors: None
What's next?
Speedster Isaac Guerendo could play receiver or defensive back for the Badgers. The two-star prospect's name surfaced on Wisconsin's radar after he recorded a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the Irish Invasion on June 11 - the fastest time at Notre Dame's camp.
PROJECTED CLASS
(1) QB - Chase Wolf
(1) RB - Nakia Watson
(1) TE - Jaylan Franklin
(3) WR - A.J. Abbott, Taj Mustapha, Aron Cruickshank
(1) OL - Michael Furtney
(3) DL - Boyd Dietzen, Isaiah Mullens, Bryson Williams
(3) LB - Jack Sanborn, Mason Platter, CJ Goetz
(3) CB - Alex Smith, Travian Blaylock, Jairus Brents
(1) S - Reggie Pearson
(2) ATH - Cormac Sampson, Isaac Guerendo
Total: 19
