MADISON, Wis. — The "Super Six" sounds like the name of a DC and Marvel Comics summer blockbuster collaboration movie release. In reality, it is a group that can't leap tall buildings in a single bound or move mountains with its fists.
Still, members of Wisconsin's football coaching staff are hoping they'll ultimately prove to be a smash hit for the Badgers' program.
Thus far, five elite high school football players of the so-called "Super Six" in-state Class of 2014 recruits have committed to play at Wisconsin: Sun Prairie defensive tackle Craig Evans, Marquette defensive end Conor Sheehy, Monona Grove offensive tackle Jaden Gault, Hartland Arrowhead guard George Panos and now Panos' teammate, Arrowhead defensive end Billy Hirschfeld. All that remains to round out the group is Somerset tight end Gaelin Elmore, who has yet to make his college choice.
"I've been reading some Twitter and news updates about him that he's been getting a lot of recognition from a lot of other schools," Hirschfeld told FOXSportsWisconsin.com this week. "He said he should be coming down to his decision soon. I'm hoping he completes the Super Six package."
Hirschfeld, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound junior, became the latest Badger in the group when he committed to Wisconsin last Wednesday. He said the Super Six — a name that originated with the Badgers' coaching staff, according to Hirschfeld — all made a recruiting trip to Wisconsin on the same weekend, which helped convince him to commit. The group toured the campus, watched a Badgers basketball game, ate lunch with the football coaches and met with head coach Gary Andersen.
"That day, I was able to actually sit down and talk to him for a good 30, 45 minutes," Hirschfeld said. "That was probably one of the best times that I ever talked to him and got to know him a lot more."
Hirschfeld said he was talking to his parents last week about how he wanted to proceed with his college decision. He had already taken unofficial visits to Minnesota, Michigan State, Nebraska and Northern Illinois, in addition to Wisconsin.
"I told them my honest answer and that was to commit to Wisconsin," Hirschfeld said. "I was traveling around to go see other colleges. I knew where I wanted to go and I was comfortable with the coaches there. The football program as well. I just wanted to commit right now and get it over with because I couldn't wait any longer."
Hirschfeld said he received his Wisconsin scholarship offer in early December, which also happened to be the same day former Badgers coach Bret Bielema left to take over at Arkansas. The move was jarring to Hirschfeld, who took some time to get a feel for Andersen.
"When coach Andersen came in, I wasn't really sure who he was," he said. "When I kept going to Wisconsin, I got to know him more and more and found out that he's a really cool guy to talk to. I'm ready to be coached by him soon."
Several Big Ten programs had shown an interest in Hirschfeld. He held scholarship offers from Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota and Nebraska.
"He's the type of kid that could play either offense or defense," Arrowhead football coach Greg Malling said. "Obviously, he's a defensive player at this point and maybe still will be, but he's a versatile kid. He's a good athlete, a basketball player as well. He's got those long arms. I think he can do so many different things on either side of the ball. He's very valuable that way."
Hirschfeld, who is expected to stay at defensive end at Wisconsin, described himself as a player with quick hands and good hand placement, power and strength. He said he would like to improve his speed off the snap in the coming years.
"Probably working on using more moves other than like a bull rush or a swim move," he said. "I learned from some of the camps and combines that if I use more moves, I get to the QB a lot quicker. That will come over time."
Last season, Hirschfeld finished with 54 tackles and two sacks and was an instrumental part of Arrowhead's state championship season. His performance helped put him in position to be recruited from some of the top football programs in the Big Ten — and, of course, to be included in the Super Six.
"He's worked very hard to get himself that way," Malling said. "I don't think it's genes. It's not just genetics. He's a good worker."
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