The Wisconsin Badgers 2010 football recruiting class has 24 players, plus 6 additional preferred walk ons.
All 6 preferred walk ons are from Wisconsin, while 8 of the 24 players in the recruiting class are from Wisconsin.
The bios for Bret Bielema’s 8 Wisconsin recruits follow:
Kyle Costigan
OL/DT, 6-4, 280
Wind Lake, Wis. (Muskego HS)
High School:Ranked as No. 125 defensive tackle in country by Scout … in senior season, named second-team all-state and team MVP … also named all-conference, all-area and all-region … played defensive tackle and made 33 tackles and three sacks in limited time as a senior … team captain as a senior… as a junior, named all-conference and all-area … lined up at defensive end as a junior and recorded 68 tackles, six sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries … set the school’s bench press record as a freshman … won three letters in football and track and one letter each in basketball and wrestling … high school coaches were John Sterner and Ken Krause
Personal:Parents are Dennis and Sandy Costigan … hobbies include spending time with friends and family and working out.
Bryce Gilbert
DT, 6-0, 286
Brookfield, Wis. (Brookfield Central HS)
High School:Ranked as No. 60 defensive tackle in the country by Scout and No. 113 defensive tackle by ESPN/Scouts Inc. … top defensive tackle in Wisconsin (ESPN/Scouts Inc.) and seventh-best player in Wisconsin according to Rivals … in senior season, named first team all-conference, all-area and all-state … also named Greater Metro defensive lineman of the year … served as team captain and was named team MVP as a senior … made 23 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, nine sacks, while also forcing four fumbles and blocking two kicks … as a junior, named first team all-conference and all-suburban after recording 20 tackles, seven sacks and four tackles for loss … letterwinner in football, wrestling and track … coach was Doug Lange
Personal:Mother is Brenda Linneman … aunt, LeAnne Gilbert, played basketball at University of Northern Iowa from 1978-79, while uncle, Rich Gilbert, played basketball at Upper Iowa University from 1983-87 … aunt, Lori Gilbert Gee, played softball at Minnesota State University Mankato from 1988-90 … hobbies include hanging out with friends and working out.
Jake Irwin
DE, 6-4, 243
Waunakee, Wis. (Waunakee HS)
High School: Ranked by Scout as the No. 103 defensive end in the country … 11th-best player in Wisconsin according to Rivals … started at right tackle for three seasons … in senior season, named Wisconsin State Journal All-Area Player of the Year … named first-team all-area by Wisconsin State Journaland Capital Times … Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and Associated Press first-team all-state as offensive lineman … unanimous two-way first-team Badger All-Conference as offensive tackle and defensive end … Wisconsin Sports Network’s inaugural Joe Thomas Award Winner as Wisconsin’s outstanding senior offensive lineman … anchored offensive line that produced two 1,000-yard rushers … on defense, recorded 55 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, one blocked punt, one interception and one fumble return for a touchdown … served as team captain in senior season … as a junior, named first-team all-conference … named honorable mention in the Badger North Conference as a sophomore … won three letters in football and wrestling … member of school’s honor roll all four years … head coach was Pat Rice
Personal:Parents are Tom Irwin and Laurie Conley … did volunteer work for Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, Waunakee Neighborhood Connection food drives and assisted with youth football and wrestling camps … hobbies include weight training, video games, camping and hanging out with friends.
Michael Trotter
S, 6-1, 206
Racine, Wis. (Marquette HS)
High School:No. 38 safety in the country by Rivals, No. 86 safety according to Scout and No. 108 to ESPN/Scouts Inc. … top-ranked player in Wisconsin according to Rivals … selected as a team captain as a senior … state’s Defensive Player of the Year, Player of the Year in Milwaukee and first-team all-state and all-area as a senior … made 126 tackles and had five interceptions, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and one touchdown en route to being named Jim Leonhard Award Winner … team captain as a junior and named all-conference after recording 130 tackles and one interception … as a sophomore, named all-conference after tallying 75 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumble and one fumble recovery … lettered in football, basketball and track … head coach was Dick Basham
Personal:Parents are Dr. John and Dana Trotter … brother, Aleksas, competes in gymnastics at Penn State … sister, Alana, plays basketball at Wisconsin … brother of fellow UW recruit Marcus Trotter.
Konrad Zagzebski
LB, 6-4, 234
Weston, Wis. (D.C. Everest HS)
High School:Rated as No. 50 defensive end in country by ESPN/Scouts Inc., No. 51 by Scout … ESPN/Scouts Inc. ranks him as No. 28 inside linebacker in the country … ranked as fourth-best player in Wisconsin by Rivals … top-ranked inside linebacker in the state according to ESPN/Scouts Inc. … in senior season, named Wisconsin Valley Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, recording 102 tackles and forcing four fumbles … also named all-conference, all-state and all-region as a linebacker … invited to and participated in the Under Armour All-American Game … as a junior, named all-conference after registering more than 70 tackles … moved to linebacker for sophomore season and had over 80 tackles … freshman season made 80 tackles at defensive end … lettered in football, basketball and track … head coach was Wayne Steffenhagen
Personal:Parents are Dan and Dana Zagzebski … father, Dan, played football at UW-La Crosse … relatives, Tom and Tim Johnson, played football at UW-Eau Claire … relative Jerry Polasky played football and ran track at UW-Eau Claire … relative, Ken Zagzebski, played football at UW-Claire … Konrad and sister Ingrid founded Athletes with a Heart, a non-profit organization to help people in need … hobbies include fishing, skiing, travelling and playing the guitar.
Jeffrey Lewis
RB, 6-1, 201
Brookfield, Wis. (Brookfield Central HS)
High School:Ranked as the No.47 running back in the country by ESPN/Scouts Inc., No. 49 by Scout and the No. 84 running back by Rivals … top-ranked running back in the state according to ESPN/Scouts Inc. … ninth-ranked player in Wisconsin according to Rivals … in 18 career games, rushed 180 times for 1,305 yards and 18 touchdowns … as a senior, named first-team all-conference after rushing 87 times for 720 yards and 10 touchdowns … team captain as a senior … as a junior, rushed for 585 yards and eight touchdowns on 93 carries in 11 games … named second-team all-conference as a junior … earned four letters in football and one in basketball … honor roll student … head coach was Doug Lange
Personal:Parents are Jeffrey Lewis and Yvette Ford-Lewis … cousin, Myles McKay, plays professional basketball for USK Praha in the Czech Republic … hobbies include video games, music and hanging out with friends.
Marquis Mason
WR, 6-3, 210
Madison, Wis. (Madison East HS)
High School:Ranked as 39th-best wide receiver in nation by Rivals, 71st-best by Scout and 91st by ESPN/Scouts Inc. … top-ranked wide receiver in Wisconsin by ESPN/Scouts Inc. … fifth-best player in the state by Rivals … in 16-game career, had 16 receiving touchdowns and 1,473 receiving yards … as a senior, first-team all-city, first-team all-conference and honorable mention all-area … in senior season, caught 14 touchdown passes and had 866 receiving yards in nine games … first-team all-city and first-team all-conference as a junior after totaling 607 receiving yards and two touchdowns in seven games … two-time team captain … two-time letterwinner in football and four-time letterwinner in basketball … in basketball, third-team all state as a junior and honorable mention all-state as a sophomore … high school teammate of fellow recruit Drew McAdams … head football coach was Dennis Hill
Personal: Mother is Lenora Mason … hobbies are basketball, eating and video games
Preferred Walk-ons
Kyle French
P/K, 6-2, 190
Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Menomonee Falls HS)
High School:Ranked as the third-most accurate kicker by Rivals and the No. 8 overall kicker in the country by Rivals, No. 15 by Scout and No. 20 by ESPN/Scouts Inc. … named as the No. 15 player in Wisconsin by Rivals … for career, made 19-of-34 field goals and 76-of-80 extra points … as a senior, first-team all-state selection by Associated Press and coaches … also named first-team all-area, all-suburban and all-county (Waukesha County) … won the seventh annual Chris Sailer National Event in Las Vegas … converted 15-of-22 field goals, including long of 42 yards, and made 39-of-40 extra points … posted average of 38 yards per punt, with long punt of 71 yards … as a junior, named second-team all-conference and honorable mention all-suburban as a kicker and punter … went 1-for-3 on field goals and 25-for-25 on extra points … averaged 60 yards per kickoff … as a sophomore, made 3-of-9 field goals with longest being 44 yards … converted 12-of-15 extra points … won three letters in football and one in soccer … named to high honor roll all four years … high school coach was John Baker
Personal:Parents are Ken and Loriann French … uncle, Jan Popiel, played professional hockey in the WHA in the 1970s … hobbies include working out and playing video games
Marquis Mason
WR, 6-3, 210
Madison, Wis. (Madison East HS)
High School:Ranked as 39th-best wide receiver in nation by Rivals, 71st-best by Scout and 91st by ESPN/Scouts Inc. … top-ranked wide receiver in Wisconsin by ESPN/Scouts Inc. … fifth-best player in the state by Rivals … in 16-game career, had 16 receiving touchdowns and 1,473 receiving yards … as a senior, first-team all-city, first-team all-conference and honorable mention all-area … in senior season, caught 14 touchdown passes and had 866 receiving yards in nine games … first-team all-city and first-team all-conference as a junior after totaling 607 receiving yards and two touchdowns in seven games … two-time team captain … two-time letterwinner in football and four-time letterwinner in basketball … in basketball, third-team all state as a junior and honorable mention all-state as a sophomore … high school teammate of fellow recruit Drew McAdams … head football coach was Dennis Hill
Personal: Mother is Lenora Mason … hobbies are basketball, eating and video games.
Preferred Walk-ons
Kyle French
P/K, 6-2, 190
Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Menomonee Falls HS)
High School:Ranked as the third-most accurate kicker by Rivals and the No. 8 overall kicker in the country by Rivals, No. 15 by Scout and No. 20 by ESPN/Scouts Inc. … named as the No. 15 player in Wisconsin by Rivals … for career, made 19-of-34 field goals and 76-of-80 extra points … as a senior, first-team all-state selection by Associated Press and coaches … also named first-team all-area, all-suburban and all-county (Waukesha County) … won the seventh annual Chris Sailer National Event in Las Vegas … converted 15-of-22 field goals, including long of 42 yards, and made 39-of-40 extra points … posted average of 38 yards per punt, with long punt of 71 yards … as a junior, named second-team all-conference and honorable mention all-suburban as a kicker and punter … went 1-for-3 on field goals and 25-for-25 on extra points … averaged 60 yards per kickoff … as a sophomore, made 3-of-9 field goals with longest being 44 yards … converted 12-of-15 extra points … won three letters in football and one in soccer … named to high honor roll all four years … high school coach was John Baker
Personal:Parents are Ken and Loriann French … uncle, Jan Popiel, played professional hockey in the WHA in the 1970s … hobbies include working out and playing video games.
Riki Kodanko
OL, 6-9, 325
Green Bay, Wis. (West De Pere HS)
High School:Honorable mention all-conference as a senior … earned one letter in football and three in basketball … member of the Brown County Teen Leadership Program … did volunteer work with Special Olympics, Lion’s Club, Paul’s Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul of Green Bay and multiple youth athletic programs … head coach was Bill Turnquist
Personal:Parents are Craig and Karen Kodanko … mother, Karen, played basketball at Green Bay … hobbies include golf, camping, cooking and spending time with his younger brothers.
Riki Kodanko
OL, 6-9, 325
Green Bay, Wis. (West De Pere HS)
High School:Honorable mention all-conference as a senior … earned one letter in football and three in basketball … member of the Brown County Teen Leadership Program … did volunteer work with Special Olympics, Lion’s Club, Paul’s Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul of Green Bay and multiple youth athletic programs … head coach was Bill Turnquist
Personal:Parents are Craig and Karen Kodanko … mother, Karen, played basketball at Green Bay … hobbies include golf, camping, cooking and spending time with his younger brothers.
Drew McAdams
Athlete, 6-0, 183
Madison, Wis. (Madison East HS)
High School: For career, threw for 5,555 yards and 44 touchdowns, while rushing for 832 yards and 15 touchdowns (6,387 yards of total offense and 59 touchdowns) … in senior season, named all-city, first-team all-conference, first-team all-area, first-team all-region and honorable mention all-state … selected to play in Shriners’ All-Star game … in senior season, threw for 2,566 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for 674 yards and eight touchdowns … as a junior, named all-city and all-conference honorable mention … passed for 1,892 yards and 13 touchdowns and ran for four more … two-time team MVP and team captain … as a sophomore, threw for 1,097 yards and had four passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown … three letters in football and two in basketball … two-time honor roll member … head coach was Dennis Hill
Personal:Parents are Dan McAdams and Toni Rosemeyer-Koch and Jeff Koch … high school teammate of fellow recruit Marquis Mason … served as youth camp coach for Warner Park youth football … hunting, fishing and golfing as hobbies.
Jacob Ninneman
DT, 6-1, 270
Oregon, Wis. (Oregon HS)
High School:In senior season, honorable mention all-state, all-area and all-conference at defensive tackle and all-area and all-conference at guard … made 42 tackles, had seven tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one blocked punt and one touchdown on defense … team captain … as junior, earned honorable mention all-conference honors at guard … made 11 tackles on defense … lettered twice in football and three times in track … member of National Honor Society … high school coaches were Robert Pahl and Dan Kissling
Personal:Parents are Thomas and Melodie Virnig … mother, Melodie Virnig, ran track at Wisconsin from 1980-84 … hobbies include lifting weights.
Ben Ruechel
LB, 6-1, 198
Oconto, Wis. (Oconto HS)
High School:In four-year career, passed for 4,015 yards and 56 touchdowns, rushed for 3,537 yards and 52 touchdowns, made 282 tackles, and had six sacks, five interceptions and three blocked punts … three-team team MVP … as a senior, passed for 1,426 yards and 35 touchdowns, rushed for 826 yards and 13 touchdowns, while registering two sacks on defense … selected to Shrine All-Star game … named honorable mention all-state, all-region, all-conference and all-area as outside linebacker… first-team all-conference and also named all-area as quarterback … as a junior, rushed for 1,102 yards and 20 touchdowns, passed for 1,545 yards and 15 touchdowns, and made 79 tackles and had three sacks on defense … football captain as junior and senior … in junior season, named first-team all-conference at outside linebacker and quarterback … in sophomore season, had 15 rushing touchdowns and 933 yards, 776 passing yards and five touchdowns and, on defense, made 43 tackles with one sack and one blocked kick … in freshman season, rushed for 676 yards and three touchdowns, while passing for 218 yards and one touchdown … on defense as a freshman, made 56 tackles and recorded four interceptions and two blocked kicks … four-time letterwinner in football and wrestling and two-time letterwinner in baseball … captained wrestling team for three years … three-year member of National Honor Society and served as Vice President as a senior … member of school’s high honor all four years … three-year member of National Honor Society … head coach was Dave Ruechel
Personal:Parents are David and Carla Ruechel … uncle, Mike Ruechel, played baseball at UW-Stevens Point from 1984-88 … enjoys hunting and fishing.
Ben Ruechel
LB, 6-1, 198
Oconto, Wis. (Oconto HS)
High School:In four-year career, passed for 4,015 yards and 56 touchdowns, rushed for 3,537 yards and 52 touchdowns, made 282 tackles, and had six sacks, five interceptions and three blocked punts … three-team team MVP … as a senior, passed for 1,426 yards and 35 touchdowns, rushed for 826 yards and 13 touchdowns, while registering two sacks on defense … selected to Shrine All-Star game … named honorable mention all-state, all-region, all-conference and all-area as outside linebacker… first-team all-conference and also named all-area as quarterback … as a junior, rushed for 1,102 yards and 20 touchdowns, passed for 1,545 yards and 15 touchdowns, and made 79 tackles and had three sacks on defense … football captain as junior and senior … in junior season, named first-team all-conference at outside linebacker and quarterback … in sophomore season, had 15 rushing touchdowns and 933 yards, 776 passing yards and five touchdowns and, on defense, made 43 tackles with one sack and one blocked kick … in freshman season, rushed for 676 yards and three touchdowns, while passing for 218 yards and one touchdown … on defense as a freshman, made 56 tackles and recorded four interceptions and two blocked kicks … four-time letterwinner in football and wrestling and two-time letterwinner in baseball … captained wrestling team for three years … three-year member of National Honor Society and served as Vice President as a senior … member of school’s high honor all four years … three-year member of National Honor Society … head coach was Dave Ruechel
Personal:Parents are David and Carla Ruechel … uncle, Mike Ruechel, played baseball at UW-Stevens Point from 1984-88 … enjoys hunting and fishing.
Marcus Trotter
LB, 6-1, 220
Racine, Wis. (Marquette HS)
High School:Ranked as No. 31 inside linebacker in the country by Rivals and ranked 62nd by ESPN/Scouts Inc. … sixth-best player in Wisconsin according to Rivals … second-best inside linebacker in the state (ESPN/Scouts Inc.) … as a senior, named first-team all-state, all-area, all-region and all-conference … selected as conference player of the year after recording 139 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, nine sacks and two interceptions … named first-team all-conference as a junior after making 110 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and six sacks … team captain … won three letters in football … head coach was Dick Basham
Personal:Parents are Dr. John and Dana Trotter … brother, Aleksas, competes in gymnastics at Penn State … sister, Alana, plays basketball at Wisconsin … brother of fellow UW recruit Michael Trotter … hobbies including hanging out with friends.
You can get complete bios of all 24 Badger recruits at www.uwbadgers.com.
Bret Bielema is introducing his 2010 class at an afternoon news conference in Madison.