High School: Three-star recruit
according to ESPN, Rivals and Scout ... ranked as the
No. 82 offensive tackle by Scout, No. 105 by ESPN ...
rated as the No. 6 recruit in the state of Wisconsin
by ESPN, No. 12 by Rivals ... won the 2012 Joe Thomas
Award as the most outstanding senior offensive lineman
in Wisconsin ... first-team all-state by Wisconsin
Football Coaches Association as a junior and senior ...
two-time first-team all-conference selection as a
junior and senior ... conference offensive lineman of
the year as a senior ... team captain as a senior ...
also lettered in track and field ... three-year honor
roll student ... head coach was Tony Biolo
Personal: Parents are Jamie and Rocky
Biegel ... brother of Badgers linebacker Vince Biegel
... father played linebacker at BYU from 1988-92 and
also wrestled at BYU ... uncle, T.D. Biegel, played
fullback at BYU from 1989-93 ... grandfather, Ken
Biegel, played linebacker and offensive line at UW-Eau
Claire ... enjoys skiing, hunting and fishing
Keelon Brookins
DB | 5-11 | 185 | St. Paul, Minn. (Tartan)
High School: Four-star recruit by
Rivals ... rated as three-star recruit by ESPN and
Scout ... ranked No. 32 cornerback in the nation by
Rivals, No. 58 by Scout and No. 74 by ESPN ... rated
the No. 2 recruit in state of Minnesota by Rivals ...
despite playing in only 12 games due to injury,
finished career with nine interceptions as a defensive
back and scored seven touchdowns as a wide receiver...
as a senior, tallied two interceptions and a forced
fumble in three games before missing rest of season
with knee injury ... had an interception, blocked punt
and eight solo tackles in lone game of junior season
... as a sophomore, recorded six interceptions,
including one returned for a touchdown ... also
returned a kickoff for a touchdown and scored four
offensive TDs on way to All-Classic Suburban Conference
honors ... claimed 2012 Minnesota Class AA state title
in 200 meters as a junior, running a wind-aided 21.90
... Tartan High School's recipient of 2012 Wendy's High
School Heisman Athletic Award ... three-time
All-Academic selection ... three-year honor roll member
... head coach was Tim Murtha
Personal: Parents are Tyrone and
Dorene Brookins... active in DECA and Link Crew
leadership program ... volunteered as elementary school
mentor and in children's ministries at church
Corey Clement
RB | 5-11 | 210 | Glassboro, N.J. (Glassboro)
High School: Four-star recruit according to ESPN, Rivals and Scout ... rated as the No. 14 running back according to ESPN, No. 17 by Rivals, and No. 31 by Scout ... ESPN Top 150 recruit ... ranked as the No. 5 prospect from state of New Jersey according to ESPN, No. 8 by Rivals ... selected for Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl … finished career with 6,245 rushing yards, 34 rushing touchdowns and 90 total TDs ... rushed for 2,323 yards and 33 touchdowns while also recording 47 tackles and eight sacks as a senior ... set New Jersey state record with 479 rushing yards in game vs. Gloucester City ... first-team all-state, first-team All-South Jersey, first-team All-Group 1 and South Jersey Times All-Star team and offensive player of the year as a senior ... ran for 2,510 yards and 36 total touchdowns as a junior ... third-team all-state, first-team All-South Jersey, first-team All-Group 1 and South Jersey Times All-Star team and offensive player of the year as a junior ... had 1,205 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore ... head coach was Mark Maccarone
Personal: Parents are Latanya and
Steve Clement
Garret Dooley
LB | 6-2 | 215 | Rochester, Ill. (Rochester)
High School: Four-star recruit
according to ESPN ... rated three stars by Rivals and
Scout ... rated as the No. 18 inside linebacker
according to ESPN, No. 22 by Scouts and No. 25 by
Rivals ... ranked as the No. 11 recruit in the state of
Illinois by ESPN, No. 17 by Rivals ... made 132
tackles, including 18.0 for loss and 14.5 sacks, at
middle linebacker ... on offense, ran for 1,456 yards
and 32 touchdowns, adding 34 catches for 474 yards and
five more touchdowns as a senior ... Class 4A
first-team all-state, ILB Lemming Award Recipient,
Chicago Tribune All-State selection ...
first-team all-conference and Central State Eight
Conference Player of the Year as a senior ... as a
junior, recorded 1,209 rushing yards, 598 receiving
yards and 31 total touchdowns to go along with 146
tackles, 21 tackles for loss, six sacks ... all-state
honorable mention, first-team all-conference as a
junior ... two-time academic all-state pick ... six-time academic all-conference selection between football and baseball ... Spanish National Honor Society ... head coach was Derek Leonard
Personal: Parents are Barbie and Greg
Dooley ... cousin, Buck Casson, played football at Rice
University (2003-06) ... cousin, Adam Casson, plays
baseball at Parkland College (2011-present) ...
volunteers with the Big Buddy program, Homes for
Troops, Community Service Sundays ... enjoys golfing
and playing the guitar
Matt Hubley
DB | 6-2 | 205 | Waukesha, Wis. (Catholic Memorial)
High School: Three-star recruit
according to Scout ... ranked as the No. 97 safety by
Scout, No. 172 by ESPN ... rated the No. 12 recruit in
the state of Wisconsin by ESPN ... as a senior, named
2012 Associated Press Wisconsin Player of the Year ...
first-team all-state, first-team all-region and
first-team All-Classic 8 Conference as a running back
... also named second-team all-conference at defensive
end ... first-team all-county selection by
Waukesha Freeman and
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ... rushed for 1,671
yards and scored 21 touchdowns as a senior ... on
defense, finished with 75 total tackles, including 17
TFLs and 15 sacks to go along with three forced fumbles
and a defensive touchdown ... also a four-year
letterwinner in track ... head coach was Bill Young
Personal: Parents are Jenny and Greg
Hubley ... volunteers with the Rotary Club, Big
Brothers/Big Sisters and local elementary schools ...
enjoys weight training and basketball
High School: Three-star recruit according to ESPN ... rated as the No. 77 outside linebacker according to ESPN, No. 119 by Scout ... ranked as the No. 89 recruit in the state of California by ESPN ... first-team all-conference as a senior ... rushed for 847 yards and six touchdowns as a senior ... also recorded 19 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and a defensive touchdown ... four-year letterwinner in basketball ... three-time second-team All-Del Rey League selection in basketball ... honor roll student ... head coach was Robert Fisher
Personal: Parents are Tony and Theresa Jacobs ... volunteered as math and science tutor ... enjoys listening to music and playing basketball
Alec James
DL | 6-4 | 220 | Brookfield, Wis. (East)
High School: Four-star recruit according to ESPN ... rated three stars by Rivals and Scout ... No. 29 defensive end as rated by ESPN, No. 64 by Scout ... ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the state of Wisconsin according to ESPN, No. 2 according to Rivals ... had 97 tackles, 25.0 for loss, 12 sacks and four forced fumbles as a senior ... 2012 Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Year ... unanimous first-team all-state, first-team all-conference, first-team all-area and all-area Player of the Year according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ... Greater Metro Conference defensive lineman of the year ... Tim Krumrie Award winner as the most outstanding senior defensive lineman in Wisconsin ... first-team all-state, first-team all-conference, Greater Metro Conference defensive lineman of the year, second-team all-area according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel as a junior ... all-conference honorable mention as a sophomore ... three-year letterwinner in track, qualifying for state meet in 4x100 and 4x200 relays ... head coach was Tom Swittel
Personal: Parents are Heidi James and Jimmie James ... father played football at Minnesota and went on to professional career in NFL and USFL ... enjoys working out and playing video games
Jackson Keeler
OL | 6-7 | 290 | Barrington, Ill. (Barrington)
High School: Four-star recruit
according to ESPN ... rated three stars by Rivals and
Scout ... ranked as the No. 29 offensive tackle by
ESPN, No. 39 by Rivals, No. 49 by Scout ... rated as
the No. 10 recruit in the state of Illinois by ESPN,
No. 11 by Rivals ... received 28 total scholarship
offers ... named to the 2013 Senior Offense-Defense
All-American Bowl ... named All-Area by the
Chicago Sun Times ... head coach was Joey
Sanchez
Personal: Parents are Katherine and
Paul Keeler ... high school teammate of fellow Badgers
offensive lineman Dan Voltz ... volunteered with the
Barrington Crop Walk for Hunger and Relay for Life ...
senior physical education leader and was member of
choir ... hobbies are fishing and playing basketball
Junior College: Passed for 1,943 yards and 25 touchdowns, while throwing just six interceptions ... ran for 414 yards and scored six touchdowns ... named first-team All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference and ACCAC Offensive Player of the Year ... first-team All-Western States Football League
High School: Enrolled and spent one season at South Carolina before transferring to Arizona Western College after spring practice in 2011 ... three-star prospect according to Rivals ... threw for 2,264 yards and 32 touchdowns while rushing for 1,196 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior ... 2010 New Jersey Offensive Player of the Year ... named to MSG Metro All-Star Team for the tri-state area ... first-team all-state as a senior ... three-time first-team all-county selection ... as a junior, caught 35 passes for 550 yards and three touchdowns at wide receiver and recorded 49 tackles and three interceptions at defensive back ... also lettered in basketball ... honor roll student ... head coaches were Fred Stengel and Nunzio Campanile
Personal: Parents are Tina and Steve McEvoy ... brother, Colin, played football at Rutgers from 2007-10 ... volunteered with American Red Cross Disaster Services and with Guiding Eyes of New York program, helping to train seeing-eye dogs
Matt Miller
OL | 6-5 | 265 | Maumee, Ohio (St. Johns Jesuit)
High School: Three-star recruit
according to ESPN, Rivals and Scout ... rated as the
No. 35 guard by Scout, No. 39 by Rivals and No. 55 by
ESPN ... ranked as the No. 50 recruit in the state of
Ohio according to ESPN, No. 55 according to Rivals ...
48 pancake blocks as a senior ... first-team all-state,
first-team all-district, first-team all-league and team
captain ... selected to play for the under-19 U.S.
national team in the 2013 International Bowl ... 40
tackles, including 11.0 for loss and four sacks, 28
pancake blocks as a junior ... first-team all-district,
first-team all-league ... 25 tackles, including five
for loss and one sack as a sophomore ... head coach was
Doug Pearson
Personal: Parents are Jane and P.J.
Miller ... brother, Jack, currently plays football at
Michigan ... father played football from 1986-90 at St.
Joseph's College in Indiana ... uncle is Jim Leyland,
manager of the Detroit Tigers since 2006 ... volunteers
at Sunshine Children's Home, Cherry St. Mission, and
through St. John's Jesuit Christian Service ... enjoys
hunting, fishing, and working out
Chikwe Obasih
DL | 6-3 | 235 | Brookfield, Wis. (Central)
High School: Four-star recruit according to Rivals ... rated three stars by ESPN and Scout ... ranked as the No. 45 defensive end by Scout, No. 46 by ESPN ... rated the No. 1 recruit in the state of Wisconsin by Rivals, No. 2 by ESPN ... selected to 2013 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl ... finished three-year varsity career with 223 tackles, 49 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 9 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries and an interception ... first-team all-state by Associated Press and WFCA ... first-team all-conference, first-team all-area according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel as a senior ... finished senior season with 101 tackles, 24 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries ... first-team all-conference, honorable mention all-area as a junior ... had 83 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 6 sacks and 2 forced fumbles during junior season ... honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore ... head coach was Jamie Meulemans
Personal: Father is Kemakolam Obasih ... sister, Chidera Obasih, competes in track and field at Minnesota ... volunteered on Boy Scout service projects and as coach at youth football camps and with various church projects
Jazz Peavy
WR | 6-0 | 170 | Kenosha, Wis. (Tremper)
High School: Three-star recruit
according to ESPN and Rivals ... rated as the No. 177
wide receiver by ESPN ... rated as the No. 9 recruit in
the state of Wisconsin by ESPN, No. 11 by Rivals ...
had 38 catches for 535 yards and eight touchdowns as a
senior ... first-team all-state, first-team
all-conference, all-region ... team MVP and captain ...
Kenosha Alan Ameche Award finalist ... caught 26 passes
for 425 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior ...
first-team all-state, first-team all-conference,
all-region ... career totals of 115 catches for 1774
yards and 37 touchdowns ... head coach was Frank
Matrise
Personal: Parents are Linda and Jeff
Peavy ... volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club
youth football camp ... helped distribute gifts to less
fortunate kids at the Holiday House ... enjoys weight
lifting, basketball and video games
Sojourn Shelton
DB | 5-9 | 175 | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Plantation)
High School: Four-star recruit
according to ESPN ... rated as three-star recruit by
Rivals and Scout ... ranked No. 26 cornerback in the
nation by ESPN, No. 47 by Rivals and No. 76 by Scout
... named to Gridiron Kings 7-on-7 camp in July 2012
... selected for Nike's "The Opening" all-star camp
... named MVP of Miami-area Nike Football Training Camp
in April 2012 ... as a senior, returned three punts for
touchdowns and recorded an interception, 16 pass
breakups and 22 tackles ... named first-team
all-county by South Florida Sun Sentinel and
Miami Herald ... as a junior, recorded three
interceptions at cornerback and was named to the
Broward County Super 11 by the Sun Sentinel ...
started at cornerback as a sophomore and grabbed four
interceptions ... head coach was Steve Davis
Personal: Parents are Rachel Victor
and Sojourn Shelton, Sr. ... active in 100 Black Men of
Greater Ft. Lauderdale and Junior Achievement ...
served as motivational speaker for Plantation area
Little Leaguers
Donnell Vercher
DB | 6-2 | 200 | Clovis, Calif. (Clovis/Fresno City College)
Junior College: Finished sophomore season at Fresno City College with 23 tackles and eight interceptions, earning junior college All-America honors ... had 41 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups as a freshman
High School: Three-star recruit by Rivals and ESPN ... as a senior, named 2010 Tri-River Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year ... finished senior season with 112 tackles, three interceptions, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and three blocked kicks ... also rushed for 258 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior ... also competed in basketball, track and volleyball ... coach was Rich Hammond
Personal: Parents are Betty and Eric Vercher ... cousin, Roshon Vercher, played football at Fresno State ... volunteered with Amazing Grace Ministries ... enjoys spending time with family
Jakkarie Washington
DB | 5-10 | 170 | Everett, Mass. (Everett)
High School: Three-star recruit
according to Scout ... ranked as the No. 56 cornerback
by Scout, No. 110 by ESPN ... rated as the No. 8
recruit in the state of Massachusetts by ESPN ...
caught 33 passes for 439 yards and nine touchdowns, ran
for 697 yards on just 75 carries and scored 15
touchdowns, recorded two interceptions and two fumble
recoveries, returning one for a touchdown as a senior
... ESPN Boston first-team all-state as a senior ...
two-time all-state selection ... head coach was John Dibiaso
Personal: Mother is Keisha Washington
T.J. Watt
TE | 6-4 | 215 | Pewaukee, Wis. (Pewaukee)
High School: Three-star recruit
according to ESPN, Rivals and Scout ... rated as the
No. 28 tight end by ESPN, No. 44 by Scout ... ranked as
the No. 9 recruit from the state of Wisconsin by
Rivals, No. 11 by ESPN ... threw for 527 yards and
seven touchdowns and rushed for 554 yards and nine
touchdowns as a senior ... also recorded 42 tackles and
five sacks as a senior ... honorable mention all-state
... first-team all-conference quarterback, linebacker
and punter ... honorable mention all-area at linebacker
according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ...
made 27 catches for 505 yards and three touchdowns as a
junior ... first-team all-conference as a tight end ...
also lettered in track and field ... head coach was
Justin Friske
Personal: Parents are Connie and John
Watt ... brother of former Badgers defensive lineman
J.J. Watt, who was named 2012 NFL Defensive Player of
the Year with the Houston Texans, and current Badgers
fullback Derek Watt
Robert Wheelwright
WR | 6-1 | 179 | Columbus, Ohio (Walnut Ridge)
High School: Four-star recruit
according to Scout ... rated three stars by ESPN and
Rivals ... ranked as the No. 28 wide receiver according
to Scout, No. 49 by Rivals, No. 70 by ESPN ... rated as
the No. 21 recruit in the state of Ohio by Scout, No.
30 by ESPN ... finished career with 26 touchdown receptions
... recorded 48 receptions for 903 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior
... had 45 catches for 528 yards, 11 touchdowns as a junior
... first-team all-city, all-district and all-state as a senior ... advanced honor roll student ... head coach was Byron Mattox
Personal: Parents are Debra and Ernest Wheelwright ... grandfather, Ernie Wheelwright, played football at Southern Illinois and went on to nine-year NFL career with New York Giants, Atlanta and New Orleans ... uncle, Eric Wheelwright, played football at Utah ... brother, Michael Bell, played at Ohio Dominican University ... brother, Ernest Wheelwright III, played football at Minnesota from 2004-07 and went on to pro career with Baltimore Ravens and Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL ... high school teammate of current Badgers tight end Austin Traylor
Jack Cichy
LB | 6-3 | 195 | Somerset, Wis. (Hill Murray)
High School: Recorded 107 tackles,
seven tackles for loss, four sacks, six forced fumbles
and four fumbles recovered, as well as one interception,
four pass breakups and two blocked kicks as a senior
... all-conference selection as a senior ... honorable
mention all-state ... team MVP as a senior ...
finished with 111 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two
sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumbles recovered,
plus three interceptions, seven pass breakups and four
blocked punts as a junior ... all-conference selection
... two-time team captain ... 58 tackles and one pass
broken up as a sophomore
Personal: Parents are Lisa and Steve
Cichy ... father played football at Notre Dame and in
the Canadian Football League ... mother played
basketball at Marquette ... sister, Tessa, plays
basketball for the Badgers ... volunteers with Amnesty
International and as a camp counselor with local
football and basketball youth ... participated in food
preparation at a local homeless shelter and volunteered
at Ronald McDonald House ... enjoys golfing, boating
and playing with his three dogs
Joe Ferguson
QB | 6-1 | 185 | Madison, Wis. (Memorial)
High School: Threw for 1,454 yards and
13 touchdowns while rushing for 406 yards and 11
touchdowns as a senior ... first-team all-region,
first-team all-conference quarterback, second-team
all-conference defensive back, all-city quarterback,
team captain ... named to the 2012 IMG All-Madden Team
... ranked as the second-best quarterback in Wisconsin
by Wissports ... threw for 1,247 yards and nine
touchdowns in an injury shortened junior season, while
rushing for 415 yards and five more touchdowns ... won
all-city quarterback as a sophomore ... high school
coach was Mike Galindo
Personal: Parents are Dawn and Brad
Ferguson ... dad played football at the University of
Nebraska (1985-89) ... grandson of UW Director of
Athletics Barry Alvarez ... volunteered at Wisconsin
high school state football games and as a little league
coach ... enjoys golf, video games, traveling and reading
Ben Hemer
OL | 6-6 | 250 | Medford, Wis. (Medford)
High School: Recorded 54 tackles,
including 10 for loss and three sacks, as a senior ...
anchored an offensive line that rushed for 2,118 yards
and 22 touchdowns and produced a total of 2,920
offensive yards and 38 total TDs ... first-team
all-conference offensive lineman ... second-team
all-conference defensive lineman ... All-Star North
Team Selection and team captain ... honorable mention
all-conference honors as a junior
Personal: Parents are Kathy and Jeff
Hemer ... brother of current Badgers defensive tackle
Ethan Hemer ... volunteers as a coach for local youth
football and hockey teams ... also involved in Kiwanis
Club and Salvation Army ... participates in DECA and
FBLA ... enjoys hunting, swimming, ping pong, kayaking
and watching football
D.J. Spurling
ATH | 5-11 | 215 | Slinger, Wis. (Slinger)
High School: Ran for 1,084 yards and
nine touchdowns, threw one touchdown, and made 76
tackles, including six for loss, as a senior ...
all-county offensive player of the year, second team
all-conference, team MVP and team captain as a senior
... recorded 104 tackles, eight tackles for loss, one
forced fumble and one fumble recovery as a junior
Personal: Parents are Lisa and Duane
Spurling ... uncle, Brian Fulton, played football and
basketball at Carroll College (1986-91) ...
participated in powerlifting in high school, placing
fifth in the state and eighth nationally as a junior
... volunteers with Future Christian Athletes, Skills
US, Habitat for Humanity and local youth football
programs ... enjoys working out, mountain biking and
playing paintball