Wisconsin an easy choice for in-state running back Hunter Johnson

Hunter Johnson's recruitment appeared to be trending in the right direction with a recent full scholarship offer from Western Illinois and strong interest coming from a handful of other Division 1 programs.

But an opportunity to play for Wisconsin was enough for the talented in-state running back from Darlington High School to end the process and make an early commitment. Saturday, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior accepted a preferred walk-on from the Badgers.

"For some it may have been hard to turn down scholarship money, but for me there was no other school I wanted to attend and nothing else was as appealing," Johnson told BadgerBlitz.com. "I grew up a Badger fan and I used to watch the games on Saturdays and imagine myself out on the field in red and white scoring that big-time touchdown or making a game-changing play.

"Ever since I was a kid it's been my No. 1 goal."

Johnson, who took an unofficial visit to UW last week, is the fourth preferred walk-on commit for the Badgers in the 2017 class, along with quarterback Danny Vanden Boom, lineman Matt Henningsen and linebacker Jake Collinsworth.

"During the visit we got to watch the team lift, attended a meeting about applying for school and got to talk to some of the players about the university," Johnson said. "Then we met with our position coach and finished with a little tour of the campus with lunch at the Union Terrace.

"I texted coach (Chris) Haerring, the recruiter in Wisconsin, to tell him I committed and he said they were very excited to have me and couldn't wait to see me play again this fall."

After rushing for 2,365 yards on 207 carries with 45 total touchdowns as a junior, Johnson, a first-team all-state performer last fall, will begin his career in Madison as a running back. He hopes to equal that production as a senior and, more importantly, help Darlington capture the Division 6 gold ball after three straight runner-up finishes.

"They have me as a running back right now," Johnson said. "They said they like me in that spot.

"My goal this year is to win a state championship. Getting silver every year hurts more and more each time."

In the current cycle, the staff is also targeting potential preferred walk-ons Seth Wilson, Josh Seltzner, Michael Balistreri and Zach Clayton.