Class Act: Wisconsin's Signing Day Deceptively Quiet

Wisconsin does it again.

Alabama, LSU, USC, Ohio State, and even Michigan flexed their muscles off the field, announcing the signings of some of the biggest names in high school football.

The Badgers remained inconspicuous.

For the second consecutive year, rival Minnesota out-recruited Wisconsin, and a No. 43 national ranking is the Badgers' lowest since 2002, when they rounded out the top 50.

In years past, the unassuming nature by which Wisconsin recruited and signed players has worked. Two-star players like Brandon Williams and Jack Ikegwuonu developed into stars and future NFL draft picks. John Stocco and Mark Zalewski, both three-star recruits, were three-year starters.

Can the trend continue?

Not since Josh Oglesby in 2007 has Wisconsin brought in a five-star talent. Coming off a disappointing 7-6 finish—the team’s worst since a matching record in 2003—the perception might be that whatever the Badgers are doing off the field is no longer working.

Don’t be too quick to judge.

To understand Wisconsin football is to know that most, if not all, players are carefully and deliberately developed. It may take a few years to properly evaluate this year’s class.

Time may be good for the betterment of the team, but it stinks for fans.

A reliable quarterback seemed to be about the only need standing in the way of the Badgers and success in 2008. That, and a few more options at receiver and in the secondary.

Wisconsin signed four-star quarterback Curt Phillips in 2008 and brought in perhaps the best the program’s ever had at the position—even if he’s not nationally recognized as such — in Jon Budmayr. The three-star recruit from Woodstock, Ill., following the route Phillips took a year ago, is already enrolled at the UW and will participate in spring ball, which could put him on the fast track to being the next multi-year starter.

A last-minute commitment from Kraig Appleton (East St. Louis, Mo.) gave the Badgers much-needed size, speed, and depth at the receiver position. Appleton deliberated hard between Illinois and Wisconsin before settling on the Badgers Wednesday morning—hours before recruits were announced.

During his senior year, Appleton had 28 receptions for 657 yards and 10 touchdowns and recorded 42 catches for 900 yards and seven scores as a junior.

As for the secondary, no one from the class of ’08 has registered on sonar.

Don’t expect any of this year’s two-star class to contribute right away, either.

Aaron Henry, one of the surprise freshmen from 2007, will be a welcome sight this spring. The cornerback missed the entire 2008 season after tearing his ACL prior to the 2008 Outback Bowl and should replace the departed senior Allen Langford nicely.

Recruiting hasn’t been easy for Wisconsin the past couple years, not since the man made for the job, Henry Mason, was forced to leave the team following spinal surgery.

Only now are the Badgers are starting to regain their footing.

Running back Montee Ball (Wentville, Mo.), defensive ends Shelby Harris (Mequon, Wis.) and David Gilbert (Oakland Park, Fla.), and defensive tackle Jordan Kohout (Waupun, Wis.) round out the list of notable signees Wednesday.