National signing day is a banner day for college football coaches as they usher in the next wave of talent to their programs. That day came Wednesday for Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez and defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove as they replaced the likes of Jake Sprague and B. J. Tucker with a fresh batch of Badger defenders.
At the head of Wisconsin’s 2003 defensive class is Portage defensive lineman Justin Ostrowski. The 6–foot–5, 257–pound Ostrowski has reportedly been timed as low as 4.7 seconds in the 40–yard dash. As a senior, he tallied 108 tackles and 14 sacks. Ostrowski has been on Alvarez’s radar for some time.
“We identified Justin after his ninth grade year, then we offered him as a sophomore in camp,” Alvarez said. “He has a tremendous body.”
Joining Ostrowski on the defensive line this fall will be defensive end Jamal Cooper. Cooper is the latest graduate of St. Louis’ Hazelwood East High School to make the move to Madison. He follows in the footsteps of former Badger standouts Terrell Fletcher and Jamar Fletcher, as well as current Badgers Scott Starks and Brandon Williams in the Hazelwood pipeline.
Cooper is a multi–sport star in high school, running track and playing basketball in addition to football, and Alvarez looks for him to blossom in Madison.
“He’s a guy that once he settles in on one sport, he’s really going to fill out,” Alvarez said.
“He’s undersized right now, but he’s the type of kid who has big shoulders and a big frame,” Cosgrove said. “He’s a tremendous athlete, and I’m looking forward to getting him on the field.”
Another recruit with a familiar background to Badger fans is linebacker Brandon Kelly of Bedford, Ohio. Kelly hails from the same high school that produced former UW wide–out Chris Chambers and current receiver Lee Evans. While he lined up at a variety of positions in high school, including quarterback, the Badger coaching staff will look to utilize Kelly’s athleticism at outside linebacker.
One position Alvarez targeted was the defensive backfield, and new defensive backs coach Ron Lee will have an exciting freshman to work with in Stone Mountain, Ga.–native Roderick Rogers. Standing 6–foot–2, Rogers possesses ideal size for a defensive back in the physical Big Ten. After spending part of his high school career at safety, Rogers will move to cornerback to utilize his size.
“He’s an imposing kid for a defensive back,” Cosgrove said. “He’ll look good lining up back there.”
Alvarez said his biggest regret is only bringing one cornerback into the fold.
“That’s the only thing that disappoints me,” Alvarez said. “I would like to have signed one other corner in this class.”
Also signing on the dotted line for Wisconsin is safety James Kamoku, out of Kailua–Kona, Hawaii. After spending his junior year at cornerback, Kamoku made the move to linebacker for his senior year but looks to bring his punishing brand of football to the Badger secondary.
“He’s a wild horse rider, a physical player,” Alvarez said. “He’s a collision guy, and he can cover some ground. He will whack you.”
Further secondary reinforcement comes with safety Johnny White. White starred at both wide receiver and safety in Pearland, Texas. He registered 75 tackles and two interceptions in his senior campaign.
“He’s every bit of 6–foot–1,” said Alvarez. “He’s a tremendous player — a good athlete.”
Rounding out the defensive class of 2003 is walk–on safety Casey Hogan, who played high school football at Middleton.
The coaching staff placed a special emphasis on recruiting safeties this year.
“We have actively tried to locate and earmark safety–type players, rather than just move a corner to that position,” Alvarez said.
While Alvarez is impressed with the athletic ability of the class of 2003, only time will tell what impact they will make in their first year on campus.
“If they can help you play, and they’re ready to play, then they should be on the field,” Alvarez said. “I tell them that during recruiting.”