UW secures early signing day recruits
MADISON - Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst and his staff anticipated football’s first early signing period, which began Wednesday, would go smoothly. They were not disappointed. Nineteen players gave UW oral commitments for the 2018 freshman class and by mid-morning every player had sent in his signed national letter of intent.
UW also added seven preferred walkons and could add another scholarship player. The Badgers recently extended a scholarship offer to Will Honas, a sophomore linebacker at Butler Community College in Kansas.
"I think it has been good," Chryst said on the Big Ten Network when asked about the early signing period. "For those that are committed and have been for a while, it gives them a chance to sign before the holidays and not have to go through the January part of recruiting.
"Fortunately, we didn't have any surprises. They've all been committed for a while, so it was good today – no surprises."
Fourteen of the 19 signees came from Big Ten states — five from Michigan, four from Wisconsin, two from Ohio and one each from Indiana, Nebraska and Illinois. The other four states represented are Texas, Georgia, California and New York.
The five players from Michigan are: wide receiver A.J. Abbott, tight end Jay-
lan Franklin, guard Michael Furtney, wide receiver Taj Mustapha and safety Reggie Pearson.
Abbott, Franklin, Furtney and Mustapha all were offered scholarships by Michigan State, which finished 1-8 in the Big Ten and 3-9 overall last season. The Spartans rebounded to finish 7-2 in the league this season and take a 9-3 overall record into the Holiday Bowl.
However, that foursome committed to UW before the start of the 2017 season and did not waver.
Four of the signees — DE Boyd Dietzen (Kimberly), OLB C.J. Goetz (Catholic Memorial), OLB Mason Platter (Menomonie) and TE Cormac Sampson (Eau Claire Memorial) – are from Wisconsin.
Six of the seven preferred walk-ons are from Wisconsin.
“It’s been extremely rewarding to get to know all of our signees and their families throughout this process," Chryst said in a UW release. "What I’ve been most impressed with is how well they fit with one another, within our football program and with the University of Wisconsin.
"We obviously feel they can add value to our team on the field, but just as important is how their personalities, character and work ethic fit this university and our football program."
Although all of the signees were committed for months, UW had to hold off a late push by Nebraska for nose tackle Bryson Williams.
The 6-foot-2, 295-pound Williams, from Lincoln, Neb., did not receive a scholarship offer from Mike Riley's staff. However, new Nebraska coach Scott Frost quickly offered Williams.
Williams last week used Twitter to reaffirm he would sign with UW.
"I'm a lot of things to a lot of people," he wrote. "but something I want to be remembered for is that I am a man of my word."
The position group UW hit the hardest was the secondary, with three cornerbacks and one safety signing.
UW after the Orange Bowl must replace safeties Natrell Jamerson and Joe Ferguson and cornerbacks Derrick Tindal and Lubern Figaro. Redshirt junior cornerback Nick Nelson is expected to enter the 2018 NFL draft.
All three of the first-year cornerbacks are listed at 6-foot or taller. Pearson is listed at 5-11.
"I like their size," Chryst said on the Big Ten Network. "I think they all have a lot of position flexibility. They're guys that really love playing.
"Jimmy Leonhard, our defensive coordinator who coaches the DBs, he was excited about them really throughout the whole process."