WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsUW Football announces 2012 signing class

MADISON (WKOW) -- The University of Wisconsin announced its 12 player 2012 signing class on Wednesday. Below is a list of those players and their backgrounds. Preferred walkons are also included.

2012 Wisconsin Football Signing Class

Name POS. HT WT Hometown (High School)

Vince Biegel LB 6-3 225 Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Lincoln)

Hugs Etienne CB 5-11 170 Plantation, Fla. (South Plantation)

Arthur Goldberg DT 6-3 270 Mount Lebanon, Pa. (Mount Lebanon)

Bart Houston QB 6-4 215 Dublin, Calif. (De La Salle)

Vonte Jackson RB 6-0 190 Kenosha, Wis. (Kenosha Bradford)

Reggie Love WR 6-3 200 Boynton Beach, Fla. (Spanish River)

Jake Meador OL 6-6 320 Whiteland, Ind. (Whiteland)

Reggie Mitchell CB 6-0 178 Pittsburgh, Pa. (Shady Side Academy)

Leo Musso ATH 5-10 190 Waunakee, Wis. (Waunakee)

D.J. Singleton S 6-2 195 Union, N.J. (St. Peter's Prep)

Dan Voltz OL 6-4 295 Barrington, Ill. (Barrington)

Walker Williams OL 6-7 320 Tacoma, Wash. (Baptist)

 

Preferred Walk Ons:

Trent Denlinger DE 6-6 266 Cuba City, Wis. (Cuba City)

Alex Erickson WR 6-1 200 Argyle, Wis. (Darlington)

Matt Prell TE 6-5 200 Kenosha, Wis. (Kenosha Bradford)

Jake Rademacher LB 6-2 220 Wales, Wis. (Kettle Moraine)

Jack Russell K 6-0 160 Waunakee, Wis. (Waunakee)

Logan Schmidt DE 6-5 250 Gotham, Wis. (Richland Center)

Alex Walker TE 6-5 220 Glendale, Wis. (Nicolet)

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Vince Biegel

6'3, 225, LB

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

Lincoln HS

 

High School: Four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and Scout … No. 73 player nationally by Rivals … ranked as the No. 3 outside linebacker by Rivals, No. 15 by ESPN and No. 23 by Scout … top-ranked player in Wisconsin by ESPN and Rivals … finished his career with 425 tackles, 27 sacks, 10 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and four defensive touchdowns … in senior season, named U.S. Army, USA Today and Parade All-American … also the Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year and Conference Player of the Year … 2011 National Underclassman Midwest Ultimate Top 60 … winner of the John Anderson Award (outstanding linebacker) and finalist for the Dick Butkus Award … also selected as team captain and first-team all-state, all-region and all-conference … posted 172 tackles, 21 sacks, three interceptions, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns as a senior … as a junior, recorded 171 tackles, six sacks, four interceptions, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns … named team captain and first-team all-state, all-region and all-conference for his efforts … earned second-team all-conference honors as a sophomore after picking up 82 tackles and three interceptions as a safety … lettered in football, hockey and track and field … head coach was Tony Biolo

Personal: Parents are Rocky and Jamie Biegel … father, Rocky, played linebacker at BYU from 1988-92 and wrestled in 1992 ... uncle, T.D. Biegel, played fullback at BYU from 1989-93 … grandfather, Ken Biegel, played linebacker and offensive guard at UW-Eau Claire … spent time speaking to youth sports teams and elementary and junior high schools … also volunteers at his church

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Hugs Etienne

5'11, 170, CB

Plantation, Fla.

South Plantation HS

 

High School: Three-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals, two-star recruit by Scout … No. 31 cornerback in the nation by ESPN, No. 42 by Rivals … in four-year career, recorded 88 tackles, six interceptions and seven forced fumbles … senior season featured 20 tackles, one interception and two forced fumbles … in junior season made 38 tackles with three interceptions and three forced fumbles … posted 30 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles as a sophomore … team captain as a senior… lettered in football and track and field … a member of the school's honor roll … head coach was Doug Gatewood

Personal: Parents are Evance and Rosemarthe Etienne … relative, Kindly Jacques, played football at the University of Memphis … relative, Jacky Candy, played football at Houston … has volunteered at youth football camps and helped youth read books at summer camp

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Arthur Goldberg

6'3, 270, DT

Mount Lebanon, Pa.

Mount Lebanon HS

 

High School: Three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and Scout … No. 55 defensive tackle in the nation by Scout and No. 110 by ESPN … selected to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Fabulous 22 as a senior and junior … finished career with 162 tackles, seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss … as a senior, named first-team all-state and all-conference on the defensive line after picking up 63 tackles, three sacks and seven tackles for loss … also named first-team all-conference and team's defensive player of the year as a junior after recording 60 tackles, four sacks and three TFLs … in sophomore season, made 39 tackles with two TFLs … won three letters in football and two in wrestling … head coach was Chris Haering

Personal: Mother is Kathy Adams … coached youth football and wrestling and volunteered at camps in both sports

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Bart Houston

6'4, 215, QB

Dublin, Calif.

De La Salle HS

 

High School: Four-star recruit by ESPN and Scout, three-star recruit by Rivals … ranked by Scout as the No. 7 quarterback in the country, by Rivals as the No. 12 QB and by ESPN as the No. 15 QB … holds school records for career passing yards and completions, surpassing Matt Gutierrez who played three seasons in the NFL … invited to ESPN Elite 11 QB camp and played in Semper-Fidelis All-American Bowl … holds career numbers of 272-of-437 passing (62.2 percent) for 5,178 yards and 46 touchdowns … as a senior, completed 99-of-171 passes for school record 1,999 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also rushing for 338 yards and 19 touchdowns … honored as the Fox GoldenStatePreps California Junior Player of the Year after completing 102-of-153 passes for 1,922 yards and 20 touchdowns, also ran for 236 yards and 11 scores … named to the ESPN CalPreps All-State Junior and Sophomore teams … in sophomore season, threw for 1,257 yards on 71-of-113 passing with 10 touchdown and ran for 101 yards and another touchdown … three-year state champion and letterwinner in football … team was 38-1 in his career … head football coach was Bob Ladouceur

Personal: Parents are Guy and Inge (ing-GUH) Houston … father, Guy, played football and baseball at St. Mary's College (CA) from 1978-82 … grandfather, Fred Houston, played football at Fresno State (1951-54) … an Eagle Scout … named after Green Bay Packers quarterback, Bart Starr

 

 

 

Vonte Jackson

6'0, 190, RB

Kenosha, Wis.

Bradford HS

 

High School: Four-star recruit by Rivals and Scout and three-star recruit by ESPN … ranked as the No. 21 running back in the nation by Rivals, No. 22 by ESPN and No. 28 by Scout … No. 2 player in the state by ESPN and Rivals … missed almost all of senior season after tearing his ACL with 16 seconds left in second quarter of first game, still managed to rush for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and catch one pass for 38 yards before injury … carried 68 times for 956 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 14 passes for 266 yards and four touchdowns in his junior year … team captain as a senior … nominated for U.S. Army Game as a junior … lettered in football and track and field … head coach was Jed Kennedy

Personal: Parents are Allen and Donna Jackson … has coached youth football … high school teammate of fellow recruit Matt Prell and current Badger Melvin Gordon

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Reggie Love

6'3, 205, WR

Boynton Beach, Fla.

Spanish River HS

 

High School: Three-star recruit according to Scout and Rivals, two-star recruit by ESPN … No. 172 wide receiver in the nation according to Scout and No. 176 athlete according to ESPN … selected to Outback All-Star Game … named all-state, all-area, all-county and team MVP as a senior after catching 38 passes for 876 yards and 13 touchdowns … also lettered in basketball … head coach was Ray Berger

Personal: Mother is Dean Ellison … volunteered at basketball camps

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Jake Meador

6'7, 320, OL

Whiteland, Ind.

Whiteland HS

 

High School: Three-star recruit by ESPN, Scout and Rivals … No. 43 offensive tackle according to Rivals, No. 67 by Scout and No. 79 by ESPN … fourth-ranked player in Indiana by Rivals and No. 6 by ESPN … as a senior, named Indiana's Mr. Football for linemen … also chosen first-team all-state by AP, Indiana Football Coaches Association and Top-50 Elite … also first-team all-conference and all-county named first-team … all-state as a junior by AP, Indiana Football Coaches Association and Top-50 Elite … also first-team all-conference and all-county … earned three letters in football and two in basketball … head football coach was Darrin Fisher

Personal: Parents are Joe and Kathy Meador … mother, Kathy, ran track at Indiana from 1976-77 … brother, Reid, played football at Hillsdale College from 2007-12 and brother, Mitch, currently plays football at Cincinnati … uncle, John Reid, played basketball at Austin Peay (1970-74) … uncle, Mel Nash, swam at Indiana (1973-77), while other uncle, Kord Reid, swam at Texas A&M (1979-83) … aunt, Kim Reid, was a diver at Texas A&M (1980-84) … helped at Whiteland Warrior Junior Football League Camp

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Reggie Mitchell

6'0, 178, CB

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Shady Side Academy

 

High School: Two-star recruit according to ESPN, Rivals and Scout … ranked as the No. 129 cornerback in the country by Scout and the No. 151 athlete by ESPN … as a senior, named first-team all-state defensive back, All-WPIAL defensive back and all-conference defensive back … also a team MVP as a senior after throwing for 800 yards and running for 1,420 yards and 22 touchdowns … all-conference defensive back as a junior, also threw for 600 yards and ran for 550 yards and 10 touchdowns … passed for 500 yards and ran for 600 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore … also a three-time all-conference selection as a quarterback and a two-year team captain … won three letters in football and two in basketball and track and field … head coach was Dave Havern

Personal: Parents are Vicky Mitchell-Taylor and James Taylor … relative of New York Jets all-pro defensive back Darrelle Revis, who was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 … volunteered as a Community Builder in high school, helping younger students adjust to life in high school … also volunteered at his local YMCA

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Leo Musso

5'10, 190, ATH

Waunakee, Wis.

Waunakee HS

 

High School: Two-star recruit by Scout and Rivals … No. 8 player in Wisconsin according to Rivals … in his career, rushed for 5,531 yards and 87 touchdowns (93 total touchdowns) … as a senior, named first-team all-state by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and AP and unanimous first-team all-conference … winner of Elroy ‘Crazylegs' Hirsch Running Back of the Year Award after rushing for 2,398 yards and 39 touchdowns and catching one touchdown pass … named first-team all-state by WFCA and second-team all-state by the AP as a junior, also unanimous first-team all-conference … ran for 2,005 yards and 35 touchdowns and passed for three touchdowns … first-team all-conference as a sophomore after rushing for 1,128 yards and 13 touchdowns and throwing for two more scores … three-time state champions … also lettered in track and field … head football coach was Pat Rice

Personal: Mother is Teresa Musso … volunteered with the Waunakee Neighborhood Connections as a present wrapper and food pantry worker … spoke at elementary and middle schools and was a weightlifting supervisor at middle schools … high school teammate of fellow recruit Jack Russell and current Badgers Austin Maly and Derek Straus

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DJ Singleton

6'2, 195, S

Union, N.J.

St. Peter's Prep

 

High School: Four-star recruit by ESPN and Scout and three-star recruit by Rivals … No. 14 safety in the country according to Scout, No. 18 by ESPN and No. 27 by Rivals … as a senior, selected for the US Marine All-American All-Star Game and the USA Today International Bowl … also chosen all-state, all-metro and all-county after posting 53 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and 12 tackles for loss … named all-county and U.S. Army All-American Combine second-team after making 40 tackles with three sacks and three forced fumbles as a junior … recorded 42 tackles and two sacks as a sophomore … team captain as a senior … lettered three times in football and twice in track and field … head coach was Rich Hansen

Personal: Parents are Dwayne and Bernadette Singleton … volunteered as a youth coach

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Dan Voltz

6'4, 295, OL

Barrington, Ill.

Barrington HS

 

High School: Four-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and ESPN … seventh-ranked guard in the nation by Scout and No. 8 by Rivals, No. 19 offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN … third-ranked player in Illinois by ESPN and fourth-ranked in Illinois by Rivals … named all-state as a senior by Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, Illinois News-Gazette and Chicago Tribune, also named Mid-Suburban All-Conference and Daily Herald All-Area … IHSA All-State Academic Team member … team captain as a senior … as a junior, named all-state by the IHSA Coaches Association and the Illinois News-Gazette, MSL All-Conference and all-area by the Daily Herald … lettered in football, wrestling and track and field … head coach was Joe Sanchez

Personal: Parents are Robert and Beth Voltz … volunteered with Relay for Life and Barrington Food Drive and as a Barrington Area Giving Day Volunteer

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Walker Williams

6'7, 320, OL

Tacoma, Wash.

Baptist HS

 

High School: Three-star recruit by ESPN, Scout and Rivals … No. 40 offensive guard in the country by Scout, No. 50 guard by Rivals and No. 110 offensive tackle by ESPN … seventh-ranked player in Washington by Rivals … played in the Semper-Fidelis All-American Bowl … three-time all-state offensive lineman … tabbed all-state by AP on both offensive and defensive lines as a senior … earned all-league honors on both the offensive and defensive line as a senior and junior … named all-league on the offensive line as a sophomore and freshman … two-time team captain … won four letters in football, two in basketball and also lettered in track and field … won the state championship in the discus as a junior … head football coach was Mark Smith

Personal: Parents are George Williams and Denise Sims … volunteered at local children's hospital and food bank

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Trent Denlinger

6'6, 266, DE

Cuba City, Wis.

Cuba City HS

 

High School: Honorable mention all-state defensive end as a senior, also named first-team all-region and all-conference as an offensive lineman and defensive end … 2011 Southwest Wisconsin Activities League Lineman of the Year … in senior season, tallied 56 tackles, nine sacks, five tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one interception, one blocked field goal and one defensive score … as a junior, named first-team all-conference as an offensive and defensive lineman and also earned honorable mention all-area honors after producing 84 tackles, six sacks, one interception and one defensive touchdown … played on varsity as a sophomore, recording 12 tackles … two-time letterwinner in football and a three-time letterwinner in basketball and baseball … member of the National Honor Society … head coach was Guy Kopp

Personal: Parents are Tom and Tina Denlinger … father, Tom, played football at Loras College … volunteered as a coach for area youth sports teams and at his church

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Alex Erickson

6'1, 200, WR

Argyle, Wis.

Darlington HS

 

High School: In his career, rushed for 3,856 yards and 57 touchdowns, passed for 3,648 yards and 37 touchdowns and recorded 170 tackles and 14 interceptions … chosen to play in the WFCA All-Star game as a senior and was named the SWAL Conference and Wisconsin State Journal Small School Player of the Year … also tabbed first-team all-state as defensive back and first-team all-conference as defensive back and quarterback after gaining 2,489 yards of total offense (1,239 rushing, 1,250 passing), scoring 33 touchdowns (20 rushing, 13 passing) and making 50 tackles with three interceptions … also returned two punts for touchdowns … in junior season, named honorable mention all-state by AP and awarded first-team all-conference honors as a defensive back and quarterback after gaining 2,185 yards of total offense (1,318 rushing, 867 passing), scoring 31 touchdowns (21 rushing, 10 passing) and recording 45 tackles and four interceptions … as a sophomore, earned first-team all-conference honors at defensive back and second-team honors as a quarterback following a season of 784 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, 884 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns and 45 tackles and five interceptions … honorable mention all-conference honors as a freshman after posting 515 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, 647 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns and 30 tackles and two interceptions … two-time team captain and three-time team MVP … won four letters in football, basketball and track and field … three-time WBCA all-state selection in basketball … member of National Honor Society and high school's student council … head football coach was Scott Zywicki

Personal: Parents are Mike and Linda Erickson … volunteered in local youth sports leagues as a coach and referee

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Matt Prell

6'5, 200, TE

Kenosha, Wis.

Bradford HS

 

High School: Honorable mention all-conference as a senior after catching two passes for 29 yards and making six tackles … lettered in football, baseball and competitive cheerleading … four-year member of the school's honor roll … head coach was Jed Kennedy

Personal: Parents are Andy and Susan Prell … volunteered during Downtown Marathon and at Taste of Wisconsin … high school teammate of fellow recruit Vonte Jackson and current Badger Melvin Gordon

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Jake Rademacher

6'2, 220, LB

Wales, Wis.

Kettle Moraine HS

 

High School: For his career, tallied 323 tackles, nine sacks, 30 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles and one interception … Classic 8 Defensive Player of the Year, honorable mention all-state and first-team All-Milwaukee as a senior … recorded 95 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles on defense and rushed 15 times for 75 yards and one touchdown on offense … named first-team all-conference, first-team all-county and honorable mention all-region as a junior after making 100 tackles, three sacks, nine TFLs, three forced fumbles and one interception … honorable mention all-conference honors as a sophomore after picking up 73 tackles, two sacks, six TFLs and one forced fumble … recorded 55 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four TFLs and one forced fumble as a freshman … two-time team captain and team MVP … won four letters in football, three in lacrosse and one each in track and field and wrestling … four-year member of the school's honor roll … head coaches were Mike Fink (9-11) and Darnell Wiltz (12)

Personal: Parents are Daniel and Christine Rademacher … uncle, Robert Blessington, played basketball at UW-Stevens Point … brother, Ben, played football at UW-Stevens Point … volunteered at local food drive and at his church … worked at youth football and lacrosse camps

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Jack Russell

6'0, 160, K

Waunakee, Wis.

Waunkaee HS

 

High School: Four and a half star recruit by Kohl's and two-star recruit by ESPN … No. 48 kicker in the country by Kohl's and No. 65 by ESPN … first-team all-state by WFCA and AP as a senior after making 69-of-70 PATs, 5-of-7 field goals and recording touchbacks on 68 of 82 on kickoffs … also a unanimous first-team all-conference selection, first-team all-area and all-region … had 15 touchbacks as a junior on kickoffs … four-year member of the school's honor roll … head coach was Pat Rice

Personal: Parents are Bob and Beth Russell … volunteered at his church and at the local food pantry … spoke to local elementary schools … high school teammate of fellow recruit Leo Musso and current Badgers Austin Maly and Derek Straus

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Logan Schmidt

6'5, 250, DE

Gotham, Wis.

Richland Center HS

 

High School: As a senior, named first-team all-state by the WFCA and second-team all-state by the AP on the defensive line after making 148 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and four forced fumbles … also named first-team all-conference on both offensive and defensive lines and all-region … first-team all-conference as a defensive lineman and second-team all-conference as an offensive lineman in junior season … second-team all-conference as a defensive lineman as a sophomore two-time team captain and team MVP … lettered four times in football and wrestling … two-time state qualifier in wrestling … member of student council and National Honor Society … head coach was Greg Schoep

Personal: Parents are Randy and Shelly Schmidt

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Alex Walker

6'5, 220, TE

Glendale, Wis.

Nicolet HS

 

High School: All-Conference honorable mention as a tight end in senior season after recording 19 receptions for 284 yards and a touchdown … as a defensive end, posted 35 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks and four pass breakups … also won team's Black Lion Award for most sacrifice made for the team … as a junior, caught 22 passes for 318 yards and a touchdown as a tight end and made 43 tackles with seven TFLs, six sacks and three forced fumbles as a defensive end … won three letters in football, two in baseball and swimming and one in track and field … head coach was Bradley Kozaczok

Personal: Parents are Harold and Susan Walker … grandfather, Robert Remstad, lettered in basketball at Wisconsin in 1951 … volunteered as a coaching assistant for youth baseball and football camps and is an Eagle Scout