Warren on Badgers radar

Three-star defensive lineman Michael Warren and the Wisconsin Badgers are still getting to know each other, but it seems like the Badgers made a pretty favorable first impression on the Maple Grove, Minn., prospect. Warren was in Madison for the Badgers' spring game on April 28th, and spent the day getting to know the program.

"We just drove there in the morning and got there around 11 o'clock for a little barbeque with the team, met with some of the coaches, and then had some good conversations with my recruiting coach," Warren told BadgerBlitz.com Tuesday night. "Then we got a tour of the campus and the athletic facilities, which was really great. I was really impressed with Wisconsin's weight room and athletic facilities. Then watched the spring game … and had more time to talk with the coaches."

Warren has only really been hearing from the Badgers for about a month, but he did get to meet with offensive line coach Mike Markuson, who handles recruiting in Minnesota for the Badgers.

"Wisconsin is pretty new on my radar, I'm also pretty new on their radar," Warren said. "I got the invite for the spring game and then … coach Markuson actually started calling my head coach and started asking questions about me. So the spring game was the first time I met him in person.

"I really liked (Wisconsin), but it's definitely new on my radar."

The Badgers haven't offered Warren a scholarship at this point, but the 6-foot-5, 260-pound prospect said they were very interested in having him come to their summer camp in June.

The Badgers' tradition and recent success also stood out to Warren while he was on campus.

"Really what stood out to me was the pride and the tradition within the program," Warren said. "They take pride in their program and they know when to celebrate a game … like Nebraska's first Big Ten football game. They love football at Wisconsin, and it's an overall good traditional program.

"I definitely want to go to a college where the fans are into it. Where it's a well-known program that's been well known throughout the years. Personally, I don't want to go to a program where they don't fill up the stands (on Saturdays.)"

Warren is also receiving interest from Minnesota, Iowa, Iowa State, and Wyoming, as well as from a few Division III schools. But even though he doesn't have any scholarship offers in hand, he does has seen a few schools rise to the top of his list.

"My top two right now would probably be either Wisconsin or Iowa," Warren said. "Wisconsin is still new on my radar, I need to research the program, but like I said they really stood out to me."

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