The University of Wisconsin football staff under coach Luke Fickell continues to find ways to woo recruits back to the program.
Torin Pettaway, the Middleton defensive lineman who previously committed to Wisconsin but flipped to Minnesota later in the same month, announced Tuesday via Instagram his recommitment to the Badgers. He reposted his initial March commitment to his Instagram story on Tuesday afternoon, and it was the relationships with the program that led him back to Wisconsin’s 2025 class.
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“So for me, regardless of where I thought I was gonna end up, they kind of always knew that Wisconsin was the place for me,” Pettaway said. “So just them staying on me, no matter who I was talking to or where in my mind I thought I was gonna end up, they just stayed consistent, showing me love.
“So it was really just the connections, my personal connections, with the players and all the coaching staff, and it was something special. And I could feel that, from the first time I walked on campus to the most recent time I’ve been on campus, I can tell something’s special, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
Meet Torin Pettaway, Wisconsin football’s first defensive line commit for its 2025 class
Pettaway, who is listed at 6 foot 5 on wissports.net, said he is now around 285 pounds. All four major recruiting outlets evaluate him as a three-star recruit after his first season of playing high school football. His recruiting journey heated up substantially earlier this year after he announced his first offer from Nebraska on Jan. 22. That was followed by Minnesota, Southern Cal, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Illinois and Washington.
He committed to Wisconsin in early March, but announced weeks later that he’d play for the program’s archrival.
“So at first, the connection with Minnesota was actually on the rise,” Pettaway said. “They were pursuing me heavy, and I had a really good relationship with coach (Winston DeLattiboudere III), which is ultimately the reason for the first flip. Just my relationship with him was definitely something special, similar to what I have now with coach (E.J.) Whitlow at Wisconsin.
“And then obviously my most recent flip, just realizing why I committed in the first place to Wisconsin, and it just reminded me of that family feeling and just everything special about that university.”
Wisconsin continued to pursue Pettaway, and he eventually took an official visit the weekend of May 31-June 2. He told E.J. Whitlow, the Badgers’ defensive line coach who was hired in February, on Monday about his decision to recommit.
Pettaway kept it secret otherwise until he was on campus Tuesday during one of Wisconsin’s scheduled football camps. He watched how Whitlow coached, but he also delivered the good news to Fickell and director of recruiting Pat Lambert.
“They were pumped up, glad to have me back,” Pettaway said. “Like I said, they kind of always knew that this was the place for me, so they were just glad that we can see eye-to-eye about that, and they were just excited to get to work.”
Pettaway’s recommitment comes at a vital time with the defensive line still a need for Wisconsin in the 2025 class. The Badgers hosted two key targets on official visits the past two weekends: Kade Pietrzak (West Fargo Sheyenne, North Dakota) from May 31-June 2 and Wilnerson Telemaque (Miami Monsignor Pace) this past weekend. Three-star recruits Kyler Garcia (Nashville Pearl-Cohn) and Drayden Pavey (Cincinnati Taft) both announced Tuesday that they will take official visits to Madison starting Friday.
Middleton’s Torin Pettaway
Middleton’s Torin Pettaway pursues Verona’s Elijah Lagomasino during the WIAA Division 1 playoffs on Oct. 27, 2023. Pettaway announced his recommitment to Wisconsin football’s 2025 class June 11 after flipping to rival Minnesota in March.
SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Wisconsin now has 17 commits with the return of Pettaway. He joins the following recruits who intend to become Badgers: quarterback Landyn Locke; defensive backs Remington Moss, Jai’mier Scott, Grant Dean, Rukeem Stroud and Jahmare Washington; offensive linemen Michael Roeske, Cam Clark, Logan Powell and Nolan Davenport; inside linebacker Cooper Catalano; outside linebackers Brenden Anes and Samuel Lateju; wide receiver Cameron Miller; tight end Nizyi Davis, and Luke Emmerich, who the program sees as an “athlete” with no position solidified.
Pettaway is now the fourth in-state commit for Wisconsin’s 2025 class, joining Roeske, Catalano and Dean.
This is the third consecutive cycle that Wisconsin, under Fickell, has reeled back in players who had previously decommitted. The program signed wide receiver Trech Kekahuna and defensive lineman Jamel Howard Jr., both of whom had decommitted after the firing of former coach Paul Chryst, as part of the 2023 class.
Wisconsin football dips into rivals’ state and lands commitment from 3-star tight end
Kekahuna had announced his commitment to Arizona days prior to the 2023 early signing period, but flipped to and signed with Wisconsin in December 2022. Howard didn’t declare a commitment to another program but signed with the Badgers in February 2023.
Waunakee all-state tight end Rob Booker II, who had committed to Wisconsin in January 2023 but reopened his recruiting process and verbally pledged to UCLA that June, eventually signed with the home-state program during the 2024 early signing period in December. Booker enrolled in January and participated in spring practices that ran from March to May.
Pettaway, like Booker, plans to be one of the many 2025 commits to enroll at Wisconsin in January.
“Obviously, only having one year under my belt, and after next year, it’ll be two, development is the biggest thing for me,” Pettaway said. “So I do plan on going early to get as much college experience as possible.”
Photos: Wisconsin football’s final spring practice
Wisconsin Badgers running back Chez Mellusi (1) runs the ball during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (10) and quarterback Braedyn Locke (18) look to pass during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers safety Preston Zachman (14) and linebacker Tackett Curtis (4) look at a coach during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers running back Jackson Acker (34) runs the ball against safety Braedyn Moore (20) during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers tight end Jackson McGohan (87) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers tight end JT Seagreaves (41) runs the ball against safety Owen Arnett (18) during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Trech Kekahuna
Wisconsin wide receiver Trech Kekahuna had a strong spring with offensive coordinator Phil Longo comparing him to NFL receiver Josh Downs.
SAMANTHA MADAR, State Journal
Wisconsin Badgers safety Hunter Wohler (24) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Kyan Berry-Johnson (22) runs the ball against linebacker Garrison Solliday (45) during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Quincy Burroughs (5) runs the ball during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers safety Preston Zachman (14) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Ricardo Hallman (2) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman Elijah Hills (94) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Landon Gauthier (23) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Sebastian Cheeks (15) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Christian Alliegro (28) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers safety Owen Arnett (18) catches a pass during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver C.J. Williams (4) catches a pass during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Braedyn Locke (18) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Mabrey Mettauer (11) looks to pass during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver C.J. Williams (4) smiles during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman Jamel Howard Jr. (91) and defensive end James Thompson Jr. (90) participate in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Tyler Jansey (42) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers safeties and co-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers tight end Michael Cerniglia Jr. (82) catches a pass during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Jonas Duclona (21) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers cornerback RJ Delancy (5) intercepts a pass against wide receiver Vinny Anthony II (86) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers cornerback RJ Delancy (5) participates in the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Haakon Anderson (27) runs the ball during the last spring football practice at a field outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
SAMANTHA MADAR
