1/31/2017 football Edit

Tyler Mais continues Waunakee's pipeline to Wisconsin

Jon McNamara • BadgerBlitz

Editor

Jon McNamara is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has covered UW athletics since 2002 and has worked at Rivals.com since 2006.

Located about 20 minutes from Wisconsin's campus, powerhouse Waunakee High School has sent a number of players to UW over the last few years.

When the time came, Tyler Mais didn't want to miss out on his opportunity. Tuesday, just hours before Signing Day, the 6-foot-3, 195-senior accepted a preferred walk-on offer from the Badgers.

"I would say from the start of high school, Wisconsin had been my goal to play at in college," Mais told BadgerBlitz.com. "Seeing so many Waunakee athletes go to Madison made me want to go there even more. Talking with (Derek) Straus and (Leo) Musso, I knew that Wisconsin would be a perfect fit for me.

"The game-day visits and school tour I went on really helped solidify my desire to go to Wisconsin. I had talked with the coaches on a couple of occasions but (Warriors) Coach (Pat) Rice and his connections at UW helped immensely. If it weren't for Coach Rice, it would have been a much more difficult path for myself."

A standout on both sides of the ball this past fall, Mais, who scored 32 on his ACT, could play either receiver or defensive back at Wisconsin. He was also considering a scholarship from North Dakota, among other options.

"I know on my visits they had me listed as a wide receiver, but from what I know they have yet to decide," Mais said. "Depending on their numbers and how summer camp goes they will move me around accordingly.

"I had a scholarship from North Dakota that I received last spring. I was also talking with Northwestern and received a walk-on opportunity there. In the end I loved the Wisconsin walk-on tradition and couldn't say no to Wisconsin."

Mais is the 12th known preferred walk-on for the Badgers in the 2017 class. He joins prep teammate Blake Smithback, a projected offensive lineman.

"It's really a relief," Mais said. "Recruiting is a long and stressful process that never goes the way one expects it to. It does, however, work out in the end. I couldn't be happier with how everything turned out."