From in-state standouts to bruising offensive linemen and a consensus four-star quarterback on the rise, learn more about the 13 athletes that have committed to playing at the University of Wisconsin beginning in the 2019 season.Â
LEO CHENAL
Grantsburg High athlete Leo Chenal committed to the University of Wisconsin less than 24 hours after receiving an offer during a visit to Madison in September of 2017.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound in-state prospect could play a number of positions for the Badgers. While off the radar of other Power Five programs at the time of his commitment, Chenal is now a consensus three-star prospect and a top-500 player nationally per 247sports’ composite rankings.
GRAHAM MERTZ
Quarterback Graham Mertz became the second commitment of UW’s 2019 class in October of 2017, and his recruitment has exploded since then.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound signal caller from Blue Valley North High in Mission, Kansas, was unranked by all major recruiting sites at the time of his commitment but has since become a consensus four-star prospect and received offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, LSU, Notre Dame, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Arizona State.
LOGAN BROWN
Currently the crown jewel of UW’s 2019 class, offensive lineman Logan Brown ranks as a top-20 prospect in the country by all major recruiting sites.
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound tackle from East Kentwood High in Grand Rapids, Michigan, committed one day after visiting Madison for the Badgers’ big victory over Michigan on Nov. 18, 2017. He chose UW over reported offers from Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Louisville, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and others.
JULIUS DAVIS
Menomonee Falls High running back Julius Davis committed to the Badgers’ 2019 class back in November of 2017, just three days after UW extended an offer.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Davis was unranked by all major recruiting sites at the time of his commitment but has since received offers from USC, Notre Dame and LSU.
JOE TIPPMANN
Joe Tippmann became the second big-time commitment by an offensive lineman in UW’s 2019 class when he pledged to the Badgers in December 2017.
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound Tippmann from Bishop Dwenger High in Fort Wayne, Indiana, rates as a four-star prospect by 247sports and earned three stars from Rivals and ESPN. He chose UW over offers from Iowa, Indiana, Purdue, Cincinnati and others.
HAYDEN RUCCI
Many UW fans were excited about the commitment of Hayden Rucci in February, as the tight end rates as a four-star prospect by Rivals and earned three stars from 247sports and ESPN.Â
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound prospect from Warwick High in Lititz, Pennsylvania, chose the Badgers over reported offers from Michigan State, West Virginia, Minnesota, Indiana, Northwestern, Rutgers, Duke, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and others.
Keeanu Benton
The commitment of Janesville Craig defensive end Keeanu Benton in May marked the first addition to the Badgers’ 2019 recruiting class after wide receiver Nolan Groulx and safety Bryson Shaw both de-committed from the program.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Benton is unranked by all major recruiting sites but also had an offer from Iowa.
JAMES WILLIAMS
The Badgers have developed quite the pipeline of recruiting talented cornerbacks from South Florida in recent years, and Williams will try to continue that trend. Previous successes include former UW cornerbacks Sojourn Shelton and Derrick Tindal along with current players Dontye Carriere-Williams and Faion Hicks.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Williams, from Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Fla., rates as a three-star prospect by Rivals and 247sports and also held reported offers from Florida, Louisville, Missouri, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Syracuse, South Florida and others.
DEAN ENGRAM
Washington D.C. athlete Dean Engram committed to the Badgers less than a week after an official visit in June.
The son of former Penn State wide receiver Bobby Engram chose UW over reported offers from the Nittany Lions, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Boston College and others.
At 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, Dean Engram may still need to grow physically but could play either wide receiver or cornerback for the Badgers.
GIO PAEZ
Gio Paez became the second defensive lineman to join the Badgers’ 2019 class this summer when he announced his commitment June 18.
The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Paez will come to UW as a somewhat raw prospect with a basketball background but rates as a three-star player by Rivals and 247sports. He chose the Badgers over reported offers from Texas A&M, North Carolina State, Louisville, Kentucky and others.
SEMAR MELVIN
The Badgers’ list of South Florida cornerback prospects grew even longer when St. Thomas Aquinas product Semar Melvin committed two weeks after Williams.
Rated as a four- or three-star prospect by recruiting sites, the 5-foot-11, 163-pound Melvin chose UW over reported offers from Oklahoma, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Virginia, North Carolina, Purdue, Kentucky, Syracuse, Boston College, Cincinnati and others.
At the time of his commitment, Melvin tweeted that it “wasn’t an easy decision at all” but that he was “2,000 percent” committed to the Badgers.
SPENCER LYTLE
Wisconsin beat out Clemson on Aug. 4 to secure a commitment from Spencer Lytle, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound outside linebacker from St. John Bosco High in Bellflower, Calif.
Lytle, who's ranked as a four-star prospect by Rivals and a three-star by 247sports and ESPN, held reported offers from more than 40 schools.
CLAY CUNDIFF
The Badgers flipped Kansas commit Clay Cundiff after he visited Madison for UW’s win over Nebraska on Oct. 6.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound tight end, ranked as a consensus three-star prospect, pledged to the Jayhawks in June before changing his mind four months later. The Badgers were reportedly the only other Power Five offer Cundiff has received other than his home-state school.
Jason Galloway | Wisconsin State Journal
Jason Galloway is the Wisconsin Badgers football beat writer for the Wisconsin State Journal.
As featured on
The University of Wisconsin football team picked up its ninth verbal commitment for the 2019 class Sunday when cornerback James Williams pledged to the Badgers during an official visit.
The Badgers will look to add more talent to the class this summer while also holding on to their in-demand commitments.
On the heels of an official visit to Madison last weekend, Washington D.C. athlete Dean Engr…
