Wisconsin finalized its 2009 recruiting class Wednesday during National Signing Day, the first day a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent to a college.
The class, rated No. 42 in the country by ESPN.com, is headlined by wide receiver Kraig Appleton and quarterback Jon Budmayr, both Illinois natives.
Appleton is the only commitment Wisconsin acquired who is ranked in the ESPNU 150. According to ESPN, the East St. Louis, Ill., native ranks as the No. 116 recruit in the nation and the No. 15 wide receiver.
[Appleton] is a very talented football player who had a lot of suitors,"" head coach Bret Bielema said.
Appleton originally gave a verbal commitment to Illinois before decommitting and signing on with the Badgers. According to ESPN.com, Appleton also received scholarship offers from Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Texas Tech.
Budmayr, one of the four recruits already enrolled at the university, will enter his freshman season as the No. 1 quarterback from Illinois according to Rivals.com, and the No. 16 quarterback in the country according to ESPN.com.
""I'm excited about college football,"" Budmayr said. ""It's a dream come true for me. The opportunity is a true blessing and I can't wait to get going.""
The Woodstock, Ill., native also considered Illinois, Notre Dame and Nebraska, according to ESPN.com.
""He has great composure, and at that position you need someone who has just not the football skills but a little bit of the intangibles, and we really like what [Budmayr] brings to the table,""
Bielema said.
Budmayr was originally listed in the ESPNU 150 for his recruiting class before breaking his collarbone during the first game of his senior season at Marian Central Catholic High School. The quarterback said he expects a full recovery and is already participating in team drills.
""[The collarbone] is good. It's back to a higher percent,"" Budmayr said. ""I've been going full-go with the workouts and the throwing.""
Other notable inclusions in the Badgers' 2009 recruiting class were running back Montee Ball, defensive linemen Shelby Harris and Jordan Kohout, linebacker Conor O'Neill and offensive linemen Ryan Groy, Travis Frederick and Zac Matthias.
Ball, from Wentzville, Mo., was ranked as the No. 33 running back in the country, according to Rivals.com; and is the all-time leading rusher in the state if Missouri.
""He was looking for a program that runs the ball that runs the running back in a traditional style,"" Bielema said. ""I think we're a great fit for him.""
In Kohout and Harris, Wisconsin gets the No. 1 and 2 ranked players from Wisconsin, respectively. With three starters from last season's defensive line graduating, Bielema said he and his coaches made the position a point of emphasis in the recruiting process.
Groy, Frederick and Matthias were all nationally ranked top-100 linemen at their positions, according to ESPN.com, with Groy leading the way at No. 37.
In total, Wisconsin received commitments from 21 players on Wednesday, with 10 offensive players and 11 defensive players.
Along with Budmayr, Kohout, Frederick and defensive lineman David Gilbert are already enrolled at Wisconsin.
