With Signing Day quickly approaching, BadgerBlitz.com will take a look back at the top five prospects Wisconsin has signed at each position during the Rivals.com era (since 2004).
Today, we continue with the wide receivers.
1A Kraig Appleton (Rivals rating 5.9)
Breakdown: The highest-ranked wide receiver (along with A.J. Taylor) Wisconsin has signed since 2004 only lasted one season in Madison. Kraig Appleton, whose recruitment was a roller coaster up until Signing Day of 2009, had an offer list that included Illinois, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas Tech, among others. In the end, the Badgers were able to top the in-state Illini for the No. 162 player in the country. At UW, Appleton played sparingly as a true freshman before being dismissed from the program.
1B A.J. Taylor (5.9)
Breakdown: Four-star athlete A.J. Taylor was the highest-rated prospect in a talented 2016 recruiting class for the Badgers. Iowa, Northwestern, Nebraska, Kansas State and Maryland were all heavily involved, but assistant coach Ted Gilmore was able to earn Taylor's commitment in August of 2015. As a true freshman this fall, Taylor played in 11 games with three receptions and four rushing attempts.
2A Lance Kendricks (5.8)
Breakdown: One of the very few big-time prospects from the Milwaukee City Conference over the last 10-plus years, Lance Kendricks committed to Wisconsin over offers from Arkansas, LSU, South Carolina and UCLA, among others. It took him a few seasons to get going, but Kendricks, who grew into a tight end, started nine games as a junior and earned AFCA All-American, as well as SI and Sporting News first-team All-American honors, as a senior. In 2010, Kendricks led the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and was selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
2B Dareian Watkins (5.8)
Breakdown: Dareian Watkins falls in Wisconsin's "what if" category after only staying with the program for a few weeks during the summer of 2014. During his recruitment, the Badgers were able to flip his recruitment from Northwestern and expectations for high for the Rivals250 member, who was set to work at receiver for UW. As a senior, Watkins played quarterback for Galion High School in Ohio and passed for 1,456 yards and 18 touchdowns and also ran for 1,287 yards and 17 scores.
2C Nick Toon (5.8)
Breakdown: Nick Toon was the first commitment for then-head coach Bret Bielema in the 2017 class, not surprising considering his father's (Al Toon) connection to the university. The four-star prospect's career may not have lived up to the highest of expectations some had for him, but Toon certainly wasn't a disappointment. He started 20 games over his final two years and finished third in school history with 2,447 career receiving yards and 171 career receptions. Toon was selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.
