UW football team to continue to have small recruting classes

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MADISON - The University of Wisconsin football team signed only 12 scholarship players this year, and coach Bret Bielema says the Badgers could be limited to only nine for 2013. He told reporters yesterday that it makes recruiting more difficult, because he has to be more detailed in deciding who gets scholarships.

Also, Bielema says it gives opponents more of a chance to steal some of Wisconsin’s best high school talent. Beaver Dam running back R.J. Shelton recently committed to Michigan State, saying the Spartans promised he would only be a tailback. Also, Michigan State had extended a scholarship offer to Eagle River’s Austin Ramesh – a two-way player who committed to the Badgers during the weekend. Bielema says the Badgers still do a good job of getting Wisconsin’s top talent. He says about three-dozen of his current scholarship players were recruited from within the state.

Three of this year’s 12 recruits graduated early from high school, and are practicing with the Badgers this spring. Dan Voltz of suburban Chicago is expected to compete for a starting spot at guard. Kenosha Bradford running back Vonte Jackson and Florida defensive back Hugs Etienne are expected to red-shirt and sit out their first seasons in Madison.

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Wisconsin junior quarterback Jon Budmayr was planning to visit the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota this week. He hoped to get answers about the ongoing nerve problems in his throwing arm. Budmayr and the Badgers have been stymied about finding the source of the nerve pain. He visited a specialist in Michigan last week, and coach Bret Bielema says there’s been a little progress in identifying the problem. Budmayr says it could be in the shoulder itself, affecting the muscles which allow him to perform various arm functions – even daily living functions. Budmayr had an operation on his throwing elbow after problems last year at the Badgers’ pre-season camp. But he said the shoulder pain has gotten worse, and he’s also been trying to get over an injured hip since January. Budmayr says his dream is to play again – and he’s not giving up on that.

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Ticket revenue from the Wisconsin Badgers’ spring football game will help UW-Madison students serve internships in the growing non-profit sector. The UW said today that the ticket sales from the April 28th scrimmage at Camp Randall Stadium will benefit the UW Center for Non-Profits. The Badgers started charging for the Spring Game a year ago – and about 10,000 people paid five-dollars each to benefit the university’s nursing school. This time, the five-dollar ticket revenue will go into a fund to pay expenses for Madison students who serve internships at charities and other non-profit groups. The UW says the demand for interns is growing in the non-profit sector – but many charities and other such groups cannot often afford the costs of having interns. Those include things like travel expenses and stipends. The annual spring game will take place April 28th kick-off is set for 4:30 p.m.

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