Badgers 2008 Recruiting Class

Eriks Briedis

Position: DT.

Vitals: 6-foot-5, 265 pounds.

Hometown: Miami (Country Day High School).

Scouting report: No 67 defensive tackle nationally by Rivals.com. Second-team all-state and first-team all-Miami Dade as a senior. Missed sophomore season with injury. Team captain as junior and senior. In eight games as a senior, had 89 tackles and five sacks.

Primary recruiter: Dave Doeren.

Bielema's take:"Eriks is a unique story, his dad is from Germany, his mom is from Venezuela, I believe he came here in sixth grade, has been at this small private school, K-12. Just tremendous upside, really big, rangy, can run well."

Jake Byrne

Position: TE.

Vitals: 6-5, 250.

Hometown: Rogers, Ark.

Scouting report: No. 10 ranked player in Arkansas and No. 44 tight end nationally by Scout.com. Named to Northwest Arkansas Super Team and first-team all-state. Already enrolled.

Primary recruiter: Bob Bostad.

Bielema's take: "His father is from Wisconsin. His grandfather still lives here. They came in during the fall and took in a Badger game and went to a Packer game the next day. He's got a natural affection for Wisconsin."

Kevin Claxton

Position: DB.

Vitals: 6-2, 195.

Hometown: Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. (Boyd Anderson).

Scouting report: No. 50 DB in Florida by Rivals.com. Honorable mention all-county as a senior, when he had 72 tackles and seven interceptions. Team captain as junior and senior.

Primary recruiter: Doeren.

Bielema's take: "I told him he had high expectations. I signed three players out of Boyd Anderson and all of them are in the NFL right now. Great potential, big, tall, rangy safety that competes very well, does a great job closing. Doesn't mind contact either."

Marcus Cromartie

Position: DB.

Vitals: 6-1, 175.

Hometown: Mansfield, Texas (Timberview).

Scouting report: No. 43 DB nationally by Rivals.com. Top 100 players in Texas. First-team all-district as a senior. Changed schools after Hurrican Katrina as a sophomore and didn't play. Two-year totals of 116 taqckles and five interceptions.

Primary recruiter: Kerry Cooks.

Bielema's take: "He's actually a displaced Hurricane Katrina player that went to school in Texas. We 're really excited about him at the corner position. Has set a school record in the 200 (:21.77) at a prominent high school in the Dallas area."

Jake Current

Position: OL.

Vitals: 6-4, 280.

Hometown: Troy, Ohio.

Scouting report: No. 39 overall and No. 4 offensive lineman in Ohio by Ohio High Magazine. No. 25 nationally by Scout.com as guard. Same high school as Shane Carter. Already enrolled.

Primary recruiter: Bob Palcic (now at UCLA).

Bielema's take: "We'll try him either at the center or guard position. A neat thing about Jake, he was actually named All-State Ohio at all levels, he plays at a smaller school, but was able to earn that (honor)."

Zach Davison

Position: DE.

Vitals: 6-4, 235.

Hometown: Waukee, Iowa.

Scouting report: No. 3 player in Iowa and No. 53 defensive end nationally by Scout.com. Elite all-state team. Team captain as a senior. Career totals: 130 tackles, 18.5 sacks and 11 TFLs.

Primary recruiter: Mike Hankwitz. (now at Northwestern).

Bielema's take: "Another camp player, didn't know a lot about him, came in and impressed us with what he did on both sides of the football. He plays both ways, actually had more honors and more recognitiion from the recruiting sites as a defensive player. We'll just get him into camp, get him into our summer program and see what does best."

Antonio Fenelus

Position: CB.

Vitals: 5-9, 175.

Hometown: Boca Raton, Fla.

Scouting report: Ranked among top 150 CBs nationally by Scout.com. First-team all-state as a senior. Career totals: seven interceptions, 159 tackles and 803 rushing yards.

Primary recruiter: Doeren.

Bielema's take: "Antonio does a great job of playing the football, plays both offense and defense. We're going to start him at the corner position; extremely fast, he's pretty strapped up, pretty well put together. Very talented football player who's got a motor and a lot of energy."

Chris Garner

Position: OL/DL.

Vitals: 6-5, 315.

Hometown: Augusta.

Scouting report: First-team all-conference defensive lineman and second-team all-conference offensive lineman as junior and senior.

Primary recruiter: Bostad.

Bielema's take: "A guy that jumped out in camp, just the way he came in, we had a lot of top recruits in from across the country and we liked the way he competed and got after people."

Leonard Hubbard

Position: LB.

Vitals: 6-1, 230.

Hometown: Springfield, Ill. (Sacred Heart Griffin).

Scouting report: No. 19 middle linebacker nationally and No. 19 player in Illinois by Scout.com. Second-team all-state. Career totals: 357 tackles, seven sacks, 756 rushing yards and 15 TDs. Four-time team captain.

Primary recruiter: Randall McCray.

Bielema's take: "Does a great job (with) vision and seeing things. A guy we'll use at the inside mike (middle). Those guys, there aren't a lot of them out there. Really feel he has the ability to be a good player for us, to come in and challenge and compete right away."

Shelton Johnson

Position: DB.

Vitals: 6-0, 175.

Hometown: Carrollton, Texas (Hebron).

Scouting report: Ranked among top 125 safeties nationally by Scout.com. All-area top-100 player and all-district as a senior. Team won class 4A division II state title as a sophomore.

Primary recruiter: Cooks.

Bielema's take: "Another DB, that will probably play corner or safety for us, get him in here, see what he can do."

Dex Jones

Position: FB.

Vitals: 6-1, 220.

Hometown: Lombard, Ill. (Montini).

Scouting report: No. 22 player in Illinois by Scout.com and No. 32 strongside linebacker nationally by Rivals.com. First-team all-conference and all-area as senior and junior. As a senior, 60 tackles, with six sacks. Also rushed for 889 yards on 77 carries. Team captain as junior and senior. Three-year letterwinner in football and track, and four-time letterwinner in basketball. First-team all-conference in basketball for three years.

Primary recruiter: McCray.

Bielema's take: "We brought him into camp and matched him up against some of the better linebackers and defensive ends. He did a great job the first week; we weren't sold, 100 percent ... he came back the second week and did a tremendous job. We're excited to see a fullback that has the ability to block but also the ability to run the football as well."

Brendan Kelly

Position: DE.

Vitals: 6-6, 230.

Hometown: Eden Prairie, Minn. (Holy Angels).

Scouting report: Fifth-best player in Minnesota by Rivals.com and No. 33 in the nation. Had 104 tackles and 15 sacks as a senior. Same high school as former UW quarterback John Stocco.

Primary recruiter: Bob Bostad.

Bielema's take: "We saw him early, just liked the way he ran. He's tall and skinny ... we just have to get him in the program here with coach (John) Dettmann and give him the chance to put on a few pounds. Problem is, if he turns sideways, you can't see him."

Peter Konz

Position: OL.

Vitals: 6-6, 300.

Hometown: Neenah.

Scouting report: No. 30 offensive lineman nationally and No. 3 in Wisconsin by Rivals.com. First-team all-state offensive and defensive lineman. Team captain as a senior. Played both ways and totaled 34 tackles and 10 QB sacks in career. Three-year letterwinner in football and two years in basketball and track.

Primary recruiter: Bostad.

Bielema's take: "Figured, at first, we'd start him on the offensive line, but he plays both ways. ... We really liked his athleticism, the way he handled himself. He's got really good, quick feet, uses his hands well, is able to get off blocks and make plays."

Anthony Mains

Position: DE.

Vitals: 6-6, 225.

Hometown: Naples, Fla. (Golden Gate).

Scouting report: No. 16 DE nationally and No. 84 player in Florida by Rivals.com. Naples Daily News Player of the Year as a senior. Class 3A player of the year. Career totals: 169 tackles, 42 TFLs and 19 sacks. As a senior, had 101 tackles, with 25 TFLs and 10 sacks.

Primary recruiter: Doeren.

Bielema's take: "Tremendous upside, really does a good job of getting off the football, using his hands. Really excited about getting him in the program."

Dan Moore

Position: DT

Vitals: 6-2, 280.

Hometown: O'Fallon, Ill. (Joliet Junior College).

Scouting report: Was redshirted in only year at Eastern Illinois. No. 94 JUCO player nationally by Rivals.com. Second-team all-conference, with 40 tackles, 11 TFLs and eight sacks, as a sophomore. Has two years of eligibility remaining.

Primary recruiter: McCray.

Bielema's take: "Does a great job of getting to the football on film and what we've seen from the early days of winter conditioning, he's got a good motor, is in fairly good shape and is definitely very, very thick individual."

Brad Nortman

Position: P.

Vitals: 6-3, 215.

Hometown: Brookfield (Central).

Scouting report: No. 4 kicker nationally by Rivals.com. First-team all-state as punter. Had 24 punts with 39-yard average, with 13 inside the 20-yard line. Also conference defensive co-perimeter player of the year as a linebacker.

Primary recruiter: Bostad.

Bielema's take: "Came onto the scene a year ago at a kicking camp out in Las Vegas, where he vaulted to the top of the charts as a punter. We feel he'll be able to come in and give us immediate competition at the punting position."

Curt Phillips

Position: QB.

Vitals: 6-3, 215.

Hometown: Kingsport, Tenn. (Sullivan South).

Scouting report: Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year, and No. 7 dual-threat quarterback nationally by Rivals.com. Ranked No. 109 player in the nation by PrepStar. Career totals: 5,418 passing yards, 3,788 rushing yards and 115 TDs (64 rushing, 51 passing). Senior year included 2,263 passing yards, 1,885 rushing yards and 57 TDs.

Primary recruiter: Paul Chryst.

Bielema's take: "Does a tremendous job throwing the football, as well as running the football. If you walk in and talk to the people in his high school, (they) talk a lot about his athletic ability and his strengths on the football field, but even more about the things he does off it."

Joe Schafer

Position: OL.

Vitals: 6-5, 285.

Hometown: St. Paul, Minn. (Cretin-Derham Hall).

Scouting report: No. 4 player in Minnesota and No. 37 offensive lineman nationally by Rivals.com. First-team all-state. Team captain as a senior. Same high school as Kim Royston. Three-year letterwinner in football and track, two years in basketball. National Honor Society member.

Primary recruiter: Bostad.

Bielema's take: "Joe could play all positions for us up front, a guy that comes from a good program, has been coached up very, very well and has had a lot of success. We're excited to get another player from Cretin."

Devin Smith

Position: DB.

Vitals: 5-11, 185.

Hometown: Coppell, Texas.

Scouting report: First-team all-state as a senior. Career totals: 17 interceptions, 155 tackles, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Primary recruiter: Cooks.

Bielema's take: "I like the things he does from the aspect of competing and challenging for the football. He's got gifted athletic ability, but you'll see him come after the football. Some kids will sit back and wait for those things to happen."

Erik Smith

Position: RB.

Vitals: 5-11, 192.

Hometown: Chicago (Bolingbrook).

Scouting report: No. 17 player in Illinois and No. 72 running back nationally by Scout.com. First-team all-state. Career totals of 3,100 yards rushing, 470 yards receiving and 32 TDs. Team captain as a senior. Rushed for 1,400 yards and 13 TDs as a senior.

Primary recruiter: McCray.

Bielema's take: "Bollingbrook has been known for several years for top tailbacks. ... A lot of players out of Bolingbrook have stayed within the Big Ten. We're excited to get one up here."

Michael Taylor

Position: LB.

Vitals: 6-2, 205.

Hometown: Ashwaubenon.

Scouting report: No. 5 player in Wisconsin and No. 39 weakside linebacker nationally by Scout.com. First-team all-state. All-area player of the year as a junior. First-team all-conference punter and kicker as a junior. As a senior, had 103 tackles, including four TFLs, two sacks and four interceptions. Four-year letterwinner in football and wrestling, placing third in state as a sophomore. Honor roll all four years.

Primary recruiter: Bostad.

Bielema's take: "Probably one of our guys we're most excited to see. Don't know if we had a guy who impressed us more last year after having him in camp and seeing what he can do athletically. He's willing to hit people."

Tyler Westphal

Position: DE.

Vitals: 6-6, 240.

Hometown: Menasha.

Scouting report: No. 7 DE nationally and top-ranked player in Wisconsin by Rivals.com. First-team all-state, with 76 tackles and nine sacks as a senior. Career totals: 222 tackles and 28 sacks. Coached by his father, Brad.

Primary recruiter: Bostad.

Bielema's take: "He was one of the first commits, but we were even more excited in the month of December, where we were around some of the coaches that coached him at an all-star game nationally and were just raving about the motor and his ability."

T.J. Williams

Position: WR.

Vitals: 6-0, 180.

Hometown: Kenosha (Bradford).

Scouting report: Ranked as No. 7 player in Wisconsin and top 125 receivers in nation by Rivals.com. Second-team all-state as a senior. Career totals: 52 receptions, 821 receiving yards, 10 TDs. Alan Ameche Award nominee. Finished third in 400 meters at state track meet as a junior.

Primary recruiter: Bostad.

Bielema's take: "We had him in camp, he turned in probably the best camp time in my two years here as head coach, just flat, raw speed. ... He's just kind of faster than everybody else in Kenosha. No offense to Kenosha."

Kevin Zeitler

Position: OL.

Vitals: 6-4, 285.

Hometown: Milwaukee (Wisconsin Lutheran).

Scouting report: No. 3 player in Wisconsin and No. 39 offensive lineman nationally by Rivals.com. Played on state championship team as a senior. First-team all-state. Three-year letterwinner in football, two times in wrestling and once in track.

Primary recruiter: Bostad.

Bielema's take: "Here he'll play guard. He really became a hot prospect over the summer, every camp he went to, he basically got an offer. We really like his size, his strength, he's also a phenomenal wrestler."

WALK-ONS

Jordan Bergmann

Position: OL.

Vitals: 6-6, 280.

Hometown: Slinger (Kettle Moraine Lutheran).

Scouting report: First-team all-conference as a senior and two-year letterwinner.

Robert Burge

Position: OL/DL.

Vitals: 6-7, 305.

Hometown: Holmen.

Scouting report: First-team all-region and first-team all-conference as senior with 28 tackles, including nine tackles for losses.

Chris Cromwell

Position: OL.

Vitals: 6-3, 305.

Hometown: Milwaukee (St. John 's Northwestern Academy).

Scouting report: First-team all-conference and all-county as a senior. Started every game in four years. Smythe Scholar.

Bradie Ewing

Position: RB/FB.

Vitals: 6-1, 212.

Hometown: Richland Center.

Scouting report: No. 16 player in Wisconsin by Rivals.com and Wisconsin Preps. First-team all-state. Career totals: 509 carries for 3,911 yards and 41 TDs.

Rick Wagner

Position: TE.

Vitals: 6-7, 262.

Hometown: West Allis (Hale).

Scouting report: Ranked as No. 9 player in Wisconsin by Wisconsin Sports Network. Had 39 receptions for 900 yards and six touchdowns as a junior.

Story from Wisconsin State Journal by Tom Mulhern