Ben Kenney
June 22, 2024 2:22 pm CT
Wisconsin landed a commitment from class of 2025 edge rusher Nicolas Clayton on Saturday.
Clayton chose the Badgers over other top contenders Florida State, Nebraska, Tulane and UCF. He had taken visits to all five top contenders, including a recent one to Florida State on June 18. Wisconsin’s late pitch must have proved significant after the Florida native had recently received a crystal ball prediction to choose the Seminoles.
Related: Ranking all 18 Big Ten coaching staffs entering the 2024 football season
The edge rusher is 247Sports’ No. 974 overall player in the class of 2025, No. 70 edge rusher and No. 12 recruit from his home state of Florida. His commitment brings Wisconsin’s class of 2025 to 21 commitments, 10 of which have come since the start of June.
Head coach Luke Fickell and his staff continue an impressive response after their record-breaking class of 2024 finished within the nation’s top 25 and with a blue-chip rate of 50%. The addition of Clayton now has their class of 2025 rising to an even higher national ranking.
Here is where Wisconsin’s class of 2025 now stands in the 247Sports national class of 2025 rankings with June drawing to a close:
(Note: The movement is due to Wisconsin’s recent string of commitments. But it is also somewhat due to USC losing commitments from several top-ranked recruits)
1
Ohio State Buckeyes
Oct. 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio; Ohio State Buckeyes running backs coach Tony Alford, head coach Ryan Day and offensive line coach Justin Frye signal from the sideline during the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium.
Blue-Chip Players:15 (three five-stars)
Commits:17
Average Player Rating:94.37
Total Points:288.11
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions onBuckeyes Wire
2
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman celebrates at the 90th annual Sun Bowl game against Oregon State on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, at El Paso, Texas. GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES-USA TODAY NETWORK
Blue-Chip Players:12
Commits:21
Average Player Rating:91.01
Total Points:264.56
Get more (Notre Dame) news, analysis and opinions onFighting Irish Wire
3
Alabama Crimson Tide
Jan. 13, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; The University of Alabama introduced new head football coach Kalen DeBoer with a press conference at Bryant-Denny Stadium. DeBoer speaks during the press conference. Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY NETWORK
Blue-Chip Players:13 (one five-star)
Commits:17
Average Player Rating:92.86
Total Points:260.48
Get more (Alabama) news, analysis and opinions onRoll Tide Wire
4
Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers football coach Hugh Freeze and athletic director John Cohen pose for photos during Freeze’s introduction at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK
Blue-Chip Players:11
Commits:16
Average Player Rating:91.43
Total Points:244.03
Get more (Auburn) news, analysis and opinions onAuburn Wire
5
Georgia Bulldogs
Dec. 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart and running back Kendall Milton (2) react after the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:12 (two five-stars)
Commits:13
Average Player Rating:93.44
Total Points:241.06
Get more (Georgia) news, analysis and opinions onUGA Wire
6
Clemson Tigers
Sept. 30, 2023; Syracuse, New York; Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney reacts in the fourth quarter against Syracuse at JMA Wireless Dome. Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:10
Commits:13
Average Player Rating:93.01
Total Points:237.83
Get more (Clemson) news, analysis and opinions onClemson Wire
7
LSU Tigers
Jan. 1, 2024; Tampa, Florida; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) talk on the podium after the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Reliaquest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:11 (two five-stars)
Commits:12
Average Player Rating:93.90
Total Points:234.33
Get more (LSU) news, analysis and opinions onLSU Wire
8
Oklahoma Sooners
Dec. 28, 2023; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables looks on in the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at Alamodome. Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:10
Commits:16
Average Player Rating:90.54
Total Points:233.17
Get more (Oklahoma) news, analysis and opinions onSooners Wire
9
Texas A&M Aggies
July 21, 2022; Charlotte, NC; Duke head coach Mike Elko talks to the media during the second day of ACC media days at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, NC. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:11
Commits:14
Average Player Rating: 91.45
Total Points:229.38
Get more (Texas A&M) news, analysis and opinions onAggies Wire
10
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Sept. 3, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at SHI Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:5
Commits:27
Average Player Rating: 87.59
Total Points:224.87
Get more (Rutgers) news, analysis and opinions onRutgers Wire
11
Wisconsin Badgers
Luke Fickell head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers claps after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Camp Randall Stadium on Nov. 18, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin. John Fisher/Getty Images
Blue-Chip Players:5
Commits:21
Average Player Rating: 88.11
Total Points:217.45
12
Penn State Nittany Lions
Dec. 30, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin on the sidelines against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:8
Commits:15
Average Player Rating:89.73
Total Points:215.75
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions onNittany Lions Wire
13
TCU Horned Frogs
Nov. 18, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes during the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Baylor Bears at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:4
Commits:16
Average Player Rating: 88.25
Total Points:206.24
14
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Dec 6, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head football coach Brent Key talks with former MLB player Mark Teixeira at halftime of a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:2
Commits:18
Average Player Rating: 86.96
Total Points:199.37
15
Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham reacts to a play during the fourth quarter against Arizona at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Dec. 13, 2023. Michael Chow/The Republic-USA TODAY NETWORK
Blue-Chip Players:2
Commits:19
Average Player Rating: 86.86
Total Points:197.54
16
Syracuse Orange
Dec. 21, 2023; Boca Raton, Florida;; Syracuse Orange quarterback Braden Davis (10) looks to pass the ball against the South Florida Bulls in the second quarter during the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:1
Commits:22
Average Player Rating:86.32
Total Points:197.37
17
Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel during preseason football practice held on UT’s campus on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Blue-Chip Players:6 (1 five-star)
Commits:12
Average Player Rating: 90.20
Total Points:197.28
Get more (Tennessee) news, analysis and opinions onVols Wire
18
USC Trojans
USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) talks with USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley during the first half of the game against No. 6 Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. Abigail Dollins-USA TODAY NETWORK
Blue-Chip Players:4 (one five-stars)
Commits:11
Average Player Rating:91.03
Total Points:195.97
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions onTrojans Wire
19
Texas Longhorns
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian greets wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) while warming up for the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoffsemifinals game against the Washington Huskies at the Caesars Superdome on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK
Blue-Chip Players:7
Commits:11
Average Player Rating: 90.85
Total Points:194.24
Get more (Texas) news, analysis and opinions onLonghorns Wire
20
Duke Blue Devils
Dec 9, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils new head football coach Manny Diaz is introduced to the crowd during the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:1
Commits:20
Average Player Rating: 86.20
Total Points:193.60
Get more (Duke) news, analysis and opinions on Duke Wire
21
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