The University of Wisconsin football team continues to put a premium on athleticism when it comes to recruiting offensive linemen.

That's the case with Casey Dehn (6-foot-5, 265 pounds) from Owatonna, Minn., who recently gave an oral commitment to the Badgers.

Dehn is a three-sport athlete who reached the heavyweight quarterfinals of the Minnesota state wrestling tournament, then won state titles in track and field for the large schools division in the shot put (62 feet 51⁄2 inches) and discus (173-9).

He was a second-team all-state two-way lineman who played tackle in a run-based offense.

"The nice thing about his feet, from a pass-set standpoint, those tackles really have to get back quickly on their pass drops," Owatonna coach Jeff Williams said. "He certainly has the ability to do that."

Dehn impressed the UW coaching staff at a recent camp to earn his offer. According to Williams, UW offensive line coach Bob Bostad expects Dehn to wind up at tackle or guard. He is the fourth offensive line commitment so far for 2009.

Minnesota also offered Dehn, but he has strong ties to Wisconsin. His dad lives in Monroe and he has a brother and sister who compete on the UW men's and women's track teams.

"They've got pretty strong family ties there," Williams said. "I think that was always his dream, to play for the Badgers."

Dehn played basketball until ninth grade, then made the state tournament in only his third year of wrestling.

Wrestlers usually have good balance, while throwing the shot put and discus normally means excellent feet and explosion.

"Absolutely," Williams said, when asked if that applied to Dehn. "Very good explosiveness through the hips. He's very athletic for his size and I really do believe he's got the ability to put on another 40, 50 pounds, just by eating and relaxing a little bit, instead of going a thousand miles an hour all the time."

The Badgers' other offensive line commitments are Travis Frederick (6-5, 302) from Walworth Big Foot; Zac Matthias (6-6, 305) from Hemlock, Minn.; and Ryan Groy (6-5, 285) from Middleton.

Dehn has the same frame as current UW left tackle Gabe Carimi, another superior athlete who was 6-7, 265 pounds as a senior at Monona Grove.

Williams thinks putting an emphasis on athleticism over size makes sense.

"I think that's wise, to take athletic kids and then give them time to gain weight," he said. "You have to look at these (guys) as five-year projects.

"Rather than taking a kid who's already 300 or 320 pounds in high school, look for a kid who does have good feet, good explosiveness and has had to work hard to be competitive, and allow him to mature and gain some weight."