Badgers welcome 25 additions on National Signing Day

Badgers welcome 25 additions on National Signing Day

Wisconsin football adds 19 scholarship players, six walk-ons during early signing period

 

Dec. 19, 2018

 

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin football program announced the addition of 25 student-athletes Wednesday, with 19 players signing National Letters of Intent and six more joining as walk-ons on National Signing Day.

 

Complete bios for the Badgers’ signees, as well as a pronunciation guide, can be found below. A complete roster of the signees is attached. Highlight videos for each signee are available here: https://go.wisc.edu/NSD2019

 

Keeanu Benton

DL ▪ 6-4 ▪ 290

Janesville, Wis. (Craig)

 

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … first-team all-state by Associated Press as a senior … all-region and All-Big Eight Conference as a senior … named Janesville Gazette All-Area Player of the Year … finished senior season with 75 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 2 sacks and a fumble recovery … two-time state qualifier in wrestling, finishing as Division 1 runner-up at 285 pounds as a junior with a 48-2 record … coach was Adam Bunderson

 

Personal: Parents are La’Tasha Benton and Troy Rodriguez

 

 

Stephan Bracey Jr.

WR ▪ 5-10 ▪ 165

Grand Rapids, Mich. (East Kentwood)

 

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … helped East Kentwood capture OK Conference championship as a senior, making 40 catches for 893 yards and 14 total touchdowns … had 525 receiving yards and 393 rushing yards as a junior, scoring nine total TDs … four-time All-OK Conference selection … two-year team captain … also competed in track, helping East Kentwood to back-to-back state titles as a sophomore and junior … owns five top-five finishes at state meet, including championship in 4×200 relay as a sophomore … four-year all-academic selection … coach was Tony Kimbrough

 

Personal: Parents are Stephan and Yamaka Bracey … sister Sekayi Bracey competes in track and field at Purdue

 

 

Logan Brown

OL ▪ 6-6 ▪ 288

Grand Rapids, Mich. (East Kentwood)

 

High School: Five-star recruit by 247 Sports … four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals … All-American Bowl selection … helped East Kentwood capture OK Conference championship as a senior … all-state as a junior and senior … All-OK Conference selection as a junior and senior … team captain as a senior … also starred in track, helping East Kentwood to back-to-back state titles as a sophomore and junior  … won consecutive Division 1 state championships in the shot put as a sophomore and junior … finished eighth in shot put as a junior and 10th as a senior at New Balance Nationals … four-year all-academic selection … coach was Tony Kimbrough

 

Personal: Mother is Kristyn Brown … sister Jessica Brown played volleyball at Western Michigan

 

 

Leo Chenal

ILB ▪ 6-2 ▪ 215

Frederic, Wis. (Grantsburg)

 

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … 2018 Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year … first-team all-state (small schools) at both running back and linebacker by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association as a senior … second-team all-state (all schools) on both offense and defense by Associated Press as a senior … named Wisconsin’s small school Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the year by WFCA as a senior … John Anderson Award winner as the state’s top senior linebacker … first-team all-state by WFCA at linebacker as a junior … four-year All-Lakeland Conference honoree … finished career with 385 tackles, 55 TFLs, 7 sacks and 3 interceptions … on offense, finished with 3,706 yards and 68 TDs rushing as well as 1,300 yards and 17 TDs receiving … two-year team captain … also earned All-Lakeland honors in basketball and track … four-year honor roll student … National Honor Society … coach was Adam Hale

 

Personal: Parents are David and Brenda Chenal

 

 

Clay Cundiff

TE ▪ 6-4 ▪ 230

Wichita, Kan. (Bishop Carroll)

 

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … first-team all-state as senior, making 19 catches for 303 yards and seven touchdowns … helped Carroll to Class 5A state championship as a junior … also helped Carroll claim Class 5A state basketball title as a junior … coach was Dusty Trail

 

Personal: Parents are Sarah Kriwiel and Gary Cundiff … father played basketball at Wichita State from 1982-87

 

 

Julius Davis

RB ▪ 5-11 ▪ 190

Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Menomonee Falls)

 

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … second-team all-state by Associated Press and honorable mention all-state by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association as a junior … All-Greater Metro Conference selection as a sophomore and junior … finished career with 447 carries for 3,067 yards and 32 touchdowns … limited to two games by injury as a senior, carrying 48 times for 537 yards and 6 TDs … had 257 carries for 1,762 yards and 17 TDs as a junior … logged 142 carries for 768 yards and 9 TDs as a sophomore … state track qualifier in 4×100 relay as a junior … coach was Dan LutNz

 

Personal: Parents are Michelle Tovar and Dornaj and Molly Davis … father played football at Carthage College

 

 

Quan Easterling

RB ▪ 6-1 ▪ 245

Akron, Ohio (Archbishop Hoban)

 

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports and ESPN … part of three consecutive state championship teams, helping Hoban go 43-2 over his three varsity seasons … two-year team captain … a two-way player, he made six catches for 75 yards in his career and also had 5.0 sacks on defense … three-year letterwinner in basketball … four-year honor roll student … coach was Tim Tyrrell

 

Personal: Parents are Latasha Easterling and Jeffrey Oden

 

 

Dean Engram

CB ▪ 5-9 ▪ 160

Columbia, Md. (Gonzaga College HS)

 

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … helped Gonzaga to Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship as a senior … three-time All-WCAC selection, earning first-team honors at cornerback as a sophomore and senior and a second-team nod at wide receiver as a junior … first-team All-DC State Athletic Association at cornerback as a freshman … coach was Randy Trivers

 

Personal: Parents are Bobby and Deanna Engram … father is wide receivers coach of the Baltimore Ravens … father was a three-time All-American and the 1994 Biletnikoff Award winner as a receiver at Penn State and went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL

 

 

Rodas Johnson

DL ▪ 6-4 ▪ 285

Columbus, Ohio (St. Francis DeSales)

 

High School: Four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals … three-star recruit by 247 Sports … had 32 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks as a senior … started five games at defensive tackle as a junior, recording 23 tackles and 7 TFLs … also made four starts at right guard as a junior … coach was Ryan Wiggins

 

Personal: Parents are Keith and Alemzwed Johnson

 

 

Spencer Lytle

OLB ▪ 6-3 ▪ 215

Redondo Beach, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

 

High School: Four-star recruit by Rivals … three-star recruit by 247 Sports and ESPN … helped lead St. John Bosco (13-1) to CIF Southern Section Division 1 title game as a senior, recording 108 tackles, 12 TFLs and 7 sacks … 2018 Butkus Award high school watch list … All-Trinity League selection as a junior and senior … named a top-100 player in California as a junior and senior by Cal-Hi Sports … finished junior season with 77 tackles, 7 TFLs and 3 sacks … four-year honor roll student … National Honor Society … coach was Jason Negro

 

Personal: Parents are Mike and Deana Lytle … father played safety at Hawai’i … brother Tyler plays quarterback at Colorado

 

 

Semar Melvin

CB ▪ 5-11 ▪ 155

Pembroke Pines, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

 

High School: Four-star recruit by Rivals … three-star recruit by 247 Sports and ESPN … helped Aquinas reach Class 7A state title game as a senior, recording 13 pass breakups while not allowing a touchdown in man coverage … named one of Broward County’s top players by South Florida Sun Sentinel … also had 9 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery … as a junior, recorded 1 interception, 8 pass breakups and 7 tackles … also a standout in track … as a junior, ran a then state-leading 22.52 in the indoor 200 meters … honor roll student … coach was Roger Harriott

 

Personal: Parents are Santana and Lakechea Melvin

 

 

Graham Mertz

QB ▪ 6-3 ▪ 205

Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley North)

 

High School: Four-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … Elite 11 quarterback … selected for The Opening Finals … 2018 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year … All-American Bowl selection as a senior … 2018 Thomas A. Simone Award winner as top Kansas City-area player … all-state as a junior and senior … first-team All-Eastern Kansas League as a junior and senior … led Blue Valley North to Class 6A state championship as junior and runner-up finish as a senior … completed 61.1% of his passes for 3,886 yards and a state-record 51 touchdowns as a senior, also rushing for 267 yards and 4 TDs … completed 62.0% of his passes for 3,684 yards and 45 TDs as a junior, adding 455 yards and 5 touchdowns rushing … finished career with 96 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions … four-year honor roll student … coach was Andy Sims

 

Personal: Parents are Ron and Amy Mertz … father played football at Minnesota from 1989-92 … sister Lauren Mertz played basketball at Kansas State in 2014-15 … sister Mya Mertz plays basketball at Drake

 

 

Skyler Meyers

OLB ▪ 6-3 ▪ 200

Blue Springs, Mo. (South)

 

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … first-team All-Simone as a senior, tallying 120 tackles, 17 TFLs and 3 sacks and adding 3 forced fumbles, 1 interception and 2 pass breakups … first-team all-district and first-team Kansas City Star All-Metro as a junior and senior … first-team All-Suburban Gold Conference as a junior and senior … finished varsity career with 235 tackles, 30 TFLs, 10 sacks, 6 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles … moved up to varsity as a freshman as part of South’s state title-winning team … coach was Jon Oyler

 

Personal: Parents are John and Bonnie Meyers

 

 

Maema Njongmeta

ILB ▪ 6-1 ▪ 205

Buffalo Grove, Ill. (Adlai E. Stevenson)

 

High School: Four-star recruit by ESPN … three-star recruit by 247 Sports and Rivals … first-team all-state by Illinois High School Football Coaches Association as a senior, finishing with 131 tackles, 23 TFLs, 10 sacks and 2 forced fumbles  … All-North Suburban Conference as a junior and senior … two-time all-area selection … team MVP as a senior … team captain … had 88 tackles, 13 TFLs and 12 sacks as a junior … two-time IHSFCA Academic All-State … coach was Josh Hjorth

 

Personal: Parents are Leo and Lynda Njongmeta

 

 

Gio Paez

DL ▪ 6-3 ▪ 305

Cornelius, N.C. (William A. Hough)

 

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … first-team All-I-Meck Conference as senior … team’s defensive line MVP as a junior … two-year team captain … also lettered in basketball, playing varsity as a freshman at Cathedral High School in Los Angeles … coach was Matt Jenkins

 

Personal: Parents are Yvette DeAngelis and Ron Morton Jr.

 

 

Hayden Rucci

TE ▪ 6-4 ▪ 230

Lititz, Pa. (Warwick)

 

High School: Four-star recruit by Rivals … three-star recruit by 247 Sports and ESPN … first-team All-Lancaster-Lebanon League as a junior and senior … second-team all-conference as a sophomore … team captain as a senior … made 30 catches for 645 yards and 8 touchdowns as a senior … had 19 receptions for 376 yards and 3 TDs as a junior … finished career with 58 catches for 1,129 yards and 12 TDs … four-year distinguished honor roll student … coach was Robert Locker

 

Personal: Parents are Todd and Stacy Rucci … father played football at Penn State and was a second-round NFL draft pick who went on to play for eight seasons with the New England Patriots … mother played field hockey at Penn State … grandfather Thomas Gilburg played football and lacrosse at Syracuse and went on to play four seasons with the Baltimore Colts

 

 

Joe Tippmann

OL ▪ 6-6 ▪ 275

Fort Wayne, Ind. (Bishop Dwenger)

 

High School: Four-star recruit by 247 Sports … three-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals … Indiana Mr. Football offensive lineman as a senior … Indiana Football Coaches Association All-State Top 50 as a junior and senior … first-team all-state by Associated Press … Indiana Prime Time 25 selection as a junior … first-team All-Summit Athletic Conference as a junior and senior … league MVP as a senior … a team captain, helped lead Bishop Dwenger (14-1) to 2018 Class 4A state championship … credited with 102 pancake blocks on offensive line while racking up 41 tackles and 3 sacks on defense as a senior … had 68 tackles as a junior … coaches were Jason Garrett and Chris Svarczkopf

 

Personal: Parents are John and Kimberly Tippmann

 

 

Titus Toler

S ▪ 5-11 ▪ 180

Long Beach, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

 

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … helped lead St. John Bosco (13-1) to CIF Southern Section Division 1 title game as a senior, recording 68 tackles, 4 interceptions and a fumble return touchdown … also lettered in track and field … coach was Jason Negro

 

Personal: Parents are Robert and Chandara Toler … father played football at Colorado from 1996-99

 

 

James Williams

CB ▪ 5-11 ▪ 175

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Chaminade-Madonna Prep)

 

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … helped Chaminade-Madonna (12-2) to second straight Class 3A state championship as a senior, finishing with 63 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 interceptions and 8 pass breakups … two-year team captain … coach was Dameon Jones

 

Personal: Parents are Eddie and Michelle Williams … brother Xavier Williams plays football at Alabama

 

 

WALK-ONS

 

Peter Bowden

LS ▪ 6-3 ▪ 215

San Diego, Calif. (Francis Parker)

 

High School: Five-star long snapper by Kohl’s and Rubio … No. 7-ranked recruit nationally by Rubio Long Snapping … No. 11-ranked recruit nationally by Kohl’s … selected for Alex Spanos All-Star Classic … successfully delivered all 227 snaps of four-year varsity career … team captain … on defense, logged 63 tackles, a team-leading 6.0 sacks and 3 forced fumbles as a senior … had 31 tackles and team-high 5.0 sacks as a junior, also recording a blocked field goal … three-year letterwinner in baseball … four-year honor student … coach was Matt Morrison

 

Personal: Parents are Brian and Jennifer Bowden

 

 

Tatum Grass

OLB ▪ 6-2 ▪ 207

Holmen, Wis. (Holmen)

 

High School: Honorable mention all-state at both defensive end and tight end by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and Associated Press as a senior … first-team All-Mississippi Valley Conference and MVC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … had 14 TFLs and 10 sacks on defense and 20 receptions for 325 yards and a touchdown on offense in eight games as a senior … first-team All-MVC at defensive end as a junior, recording 15 TFLs and 3 sacks … two-time all-region selection by WFCA … team captain … also lettered in basketball and track … four-year high honor roll student … coach was Travis Kowalski

 

Personal: Parents are Pat and Jen Grass … father played football at UW-Stevens Point

 

 

Jackson Kollath

ILB ▪ 6-2 ▪ 231

Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Sussex Hamilton)

 

High School: Second-team All-Greater Metro Conference as a senior, rushing for 794 yards and a touchdown … also played on defense as a senior … honorable mention All-GMC as a sophomore, logging 652 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing plus 172 yards and 3 touchdowns receiving  … played in only five games as a junior due to injury, recording 140 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns … team captain as a senior … state meet qualifier in track as a freshman … coach was John Damato

 

Personal: Parents are Brad Kollath and Kristin Sobocinski … mother played volleyball at Wisconsin from 1990-93 … grandfather Phil Sobocinski played football for the Badgers from 1963-66 and went on to play for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL

 

 

Logan O’Brien

OL ▪ 6-5 ▪ 245

Fennimore, Wis. (Fennimore)

 

High School: Honorable mention all-state by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association as a senior … first-team all-region by WFCA … first-team All-Southwest Wisconsin Activities League as a junior and senior … 2018 SWAL Offensive Lineman of the Year … also played defense, recording 24 tackles, 8 TFLs and a forced fumble over his last two seasons … two-year team captain … also lettered in basketball, wrestling and track … four-year high honor roll student … National Honor Society … member of student council … coach was Jonah Roth

 

Personal: Parents are Racheal Loy and Justin O’Brien

 

 

Cam Phillips

WR ▪ 5-11 ▪ 180

San Francisco, Calif. (IMG Academy)

 

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … wide receiver MVP of 2017 The Opening Cleveland Regional … played first three seasons at Westerville (Ohio) Central, playing wide receiver, defensive back and punt returner … missed senior season at IMG Academy due to injury … four-year honor student … National Honor Society … coaches were Kevin Wright (IMG Academy) and John Magistro (Westerville Central)

 

Personal: Parents are Greg and Jamie Phillips … mother competed in track and field at Ohio … sister Brista Phillips played soccer at Illinois

 

 

Blake Wilcox

K ▪ 6-4 ▪ 205

Pewaukee, Wis. (Kettle Moraine)

 

High School: Five-star recruit by Kohl’s … three-star recruit by ESPN … No. 3-ranked punter and No. 5-ranked kicker nationally by Kohl’s … selected for 2019 Under Armour All-America Game … Kevin Stemke Award winner as state’s top senior kicker … first-team all-state at both kicker and punter by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and Associated Press as a senior … finished senior season 9-for-14 on field goals and with a 40.9-yard average on punts … second-team all-state by AP and honorable mention all-state by WFCA at kicker as a junior, his first season playing football … converted school-record 59-yard field goal as a junior … two-time all-state defender in soccer, earning first-team honors from Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association as a senior … Academic All-State selection … coach was Justin Gumm

 

Personal: Parents are Mark and Sandi Wilcox

 

 

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

Keeanu Benton: kee-AH-new

Stephan Bracey Jr.: stef-FON

Leo Chenal: sha-NELL

Quan Easterling: KWON

Spencer Lytle: LYE-tle

Maema Njongmeta: MOO-mah JONG-metta

Gio Paez: pye-EZ

Hayden Rucci: ROO-chee

Titus Toler: TOE-ler

Peter Bowden: BOW-den (like “how”)

Jackson Kollath: KOE-lath