logo
Wisconsin football extends a walk-on offer to an in-state fullback

Wisconsin football extends a walk-on offer to an in-state fullback

USA Today11-06-2025

Wisconsin football extends a walk-on offer to an in-state fullback
Wisconsin football has extended a preferred walk-on offer to in-state class of 2026 recruit McCoy Smith. The offer followed his participation in the program's development camp on Tuesday.
Smith, who plays defensive linemen at Waunakee High School, noted that the Badgers offered him to play fullback at the collegiate level -- the position he played during Tuesday's camp. That last note should be music to the ears of Wisconsin football fans, especially after Phil Longo's air raid scheme mostly eliminated the position.
247Sports lists five programs interested in Smith: Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State Mankato, Northern Iowa, Sioux Falls and Winona State. However, it does not list scholarship offers from any of those programs. Wisconsin's walk-on offer is his only one from a Football Bowl Subdivision program.
The 5-foot-9, 214-pound athlete totaled 11 sacks at defensive line as a junior in 2024. His output earned a First-Team All-Conference honor and the title of Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Whether the in-state recruit accepts Wisconsin's walk-on offer or chooses to play elsewhere, it is good news that the Badgers are again prioritizing the fullback position.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Wisconsin basketball to play in-state opponent for first time since 2019
Wisconsin basketball to play in-state opponent for first time since 2019

USA Today

time25 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Wisconsin basketball to play in-state opponent for first time since 2019

🚨 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🚨Too big of a game to wait on this one!The Panthers will head to Madison to take on the Badgers for the first time in 5⃣ years in December!Panthers And Badgers Set To Meet December 30 Wisconsin basketball will tip off against the UW-Milwaukee Panthers for the first time since the 2019-20 season on Dec. 30, 2025, at the Kohl Center. UW's scheduled clash against UW-Milwaukee marks the latest nonconference announcement for the program's 2025-26 slate. The Badgers will start their season in late October with an exhibition against Oklahoma in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah, for a showdown against future No. 1 draft pick AJ Dybantsa and the BYU Cougars in mid-November. Then, Greg Gard's platoon will head to San Diego, California, for the Rady Children's Invitational in late November for games against Providence and TCU or Florida ahead of its Dec. 6 I-94 bout vs. Marquette Golden Eagles in Madison. UW will conclude its non-Big Ten slate with mid-December contest against Villanova at the Fiserv Forum prior to the Dec. 30 showdown vs. Milwaukee. "We are grateful to the Wisconsin program and to Coach Gard for agreeing to play this game," Milwaukee head coach Bart Lundy told "This contest will be terrific for Panther fans and for all basketball fans in the state of Wisconsin. We are excited to renew the in-state rivalry and wish that there were more of these games for the state and for each fanbase. We are certainly looking forward to competing in Madison in December." The Dec. 30 match marks the first time the two programs will face one another since UW's 83-64 victory over the Panthers on Dec. 21, 2019. The Badgers own a 9-1 overall record against Milwaukee dating back to the 2008-09 regular season. The two first tipped off during the 1992-93 campaign. The Panthers finished with a 21-11 overall mark during the 2024-25 season in their third year under Lundy. Milwaukee ranked No. 141 in KenPom, completing its third consecutive season with at least 20 victories. By the time it faces the Panthers, Wisconsin's starting lineup, captained by returning starters John Blackwell and Nolan Winter, plus transfers Nick Boyd, Andrew Rohde and Austin Rapp, will be in full force. UW's five-man unit figures to become one of the more formidable ensembles in the Big Ten, and it will look to build off an impressive 27-10 output a season ago. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Wisconsin basketball offers four-star in-state class of 2027 small forward
Wisconsin basketball offers four-star in-state class of 2027 small forward

USA Today

time35 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Wisconsin basketball offers four-star in-state class of 2027 small forward

Wisconsin basketball extended an offer to four-star class of 2027 small forward Jack Kohnen following its advanced Camp on Thursday. Kohnen, a 6-foot-5, 170-pound forward, is one of three class of 2027 recruits to earn an offer from Wisconsin following its annual camp at the Kohl Center on Thursday, joining wing Deuce McDuffie and combo guard Jalen Brown. 247Sports composite ranking considers the Slinger, Wisconsin, native as the No. 94 overall recruit, No. 25 small forward and No. 4 player from his home state of Wisconsin in the class of 2027. It lists him as a four-star prospect. On3, meanwhile, lists the rising junior as a three-star recruit, with an opportunity to bolster his profile as he adds mileage to his basketball career. Like Brown, who has pocketed several offers despite being a rising junior, Kohnen already owns collegiate offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Marquette and Western Illinois, in addition to his newest opportunity from UW. As a sophomore at Slinger High School, Kohnen spearheaded the Owls' offense with 23.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.6 blocks off 54.5% shooting from the field and 34.6% from 3 per appearance. Against Oconomowoc on Jan. 25, Kohnen registered 24 points, a season-best 22 rebounds, four steals and four blocks in a 27-point win. He finished with at least 25 points in 14 games as a sophomore, showcasing his two-way ability for his size. The Badgers' proximity to Kohnen's hometown, especially compared to that of the Hawkeyes or Cyclones, may become a separator as he continues to step toward his collegiate career. As of June 27, only four-star small forward Donovan Davis, four-star shooting guard Dooney Johnson and four-star Brown possess higher in-state rankings. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Alabama lands commitment from local standout, 2026 in-state linebacker
Alabama lands commitment from local standout, 2026 in-state linebacker

USA Today

time2 hours ago

  • USA Today

Alabama lands commitment from local standout, 2026 in-state linebacker

On Friday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide landed a commitment from a local product, as in-state standout Zay Hall announced that he had committed to the program. Hall is the sixth different player to commit to Alabama so far this week, as well as the third within the past two days alongside the four-star duo of Ezavier Crowell and Mack Sutter. At the moment, Hall is currently considered as the nation's No. 1,148 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. A three-star prospect, Hall is also ranked as the nation's No. 127 overall linebacker, as well as the No. 55 player in the state of Alabama where he attends Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa. The three-star prospect is the first linebacker commit in Alabama's class, as well as the fourth from in-state where he is joined by the aforementioned Crowell (Jackson), Zyan Gibson (Gadsden City), and Kamhariyan Johnson (Muscle Shoals). Alabama's class has now cracked the Top 10 of the 247Sports Team Rankings as well, sitting at No. 10 with a total of 13 commitments. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store