Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin Football: Defensive Recruiting Breakdown

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:15 p.m. ET

Fansided, Tyler Hunt/FanSided via Badger of Honor

Breaking Down the Defensive Recruiting Class for Wisconsin Football

National Signing Day has came and went once again this year with an array of action unfolding over the course of the entire day. For Wisconsin Football fans, the day went as expected with one extra get as the Badgers landed four star recruit Danny Davis in a late flip over to Wisconsin. It may not have been as glamorous as other schools, but the Badgers filled a multitude of needs for next year and future seasons. At the end of it all Wisconsin Football finished in the 33rd spot of overall class ranking with two Four Star Recruits and a multitude of 3 Stars. Lets take a look at the position by position grading of the class of 2017 starting with the defense.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Backs

Faion Hicks-Cornerback

Madison Cone- Cornerback

Scott Nelson-Safety

The defensive back position got a major upgrade going into 2017 as the Badgers signed two cornerbacks and one safety to play at UW. Both corners are early enrollees at Wisconsin and have already got introduced to the lifestyle at Madison. Hicks comes in as the 107th ranked player at his position, but at 5-10 he brings a large frame for a corner, something that has not happened for Wisconsin in a very long time. Cone is a 5-8 speedster who is very physical at the line of scrimmage and could be an excellent nickel corner down the road. With the position being somewhat of a question mark with the loss of Sojourn Shelton and Lubern Figaro being unimpressive both Faion and Madison will compete for possible field time. At safety, the Badgers are looking to fill the space of Leo Musso, and may have done that in the form of Scott Nelson, the 37th ranked safety brings size at 6-2 with tremendous ball hawk type skills. Nelson may not be on the field on 2017, but look for him to make an impact down the road.

Jan 2, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Western Michigan Broncos offensive lineman Taylor Moton (72) and Wisconsin Badgers linebacker T.J. Watt (42) in action in the 2017 Cotton Bowl game at AT&T Stadium. The Badgers defeat the Broncos 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive End

Andrew Van Ginkel (JC)

Izayah Green-May

Aaron Vopal

Losing out on TJ Watt to the NFL Draft was a big hurt for Wisconsin Football fans, but one of the defensive end recruits will surely step on campus right away and look to fill that void and produce right away. Andrew Van Ginkel is a junior college commit with a large amount of upside and athletisim. Van Ginkel brings similar length and speed that will likely line him up at Outside Linebacker rushing off the edge where Watt previously was. With only two years of Van Ginkel, he will immediatley be asked to contribute despite depth at the position. Two other recruits decided on Wisconsin as Izayah Green-May and Aaron Vopal both signed their letters of intent. Green-May is another Hybrid type player, lining up on the edge as a rusher. You wont see him in 2017 much with the depth of the defensive end position, but with that he will look to add size to an athletic frame. Vopal is another develop type player, but with size he can be a true contain defensive end. Size could translate to the offensive line with development as well, but for now the plan will be to develop general speed and build on size.