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Wisconsin wins battle for 5-star OT, top 15 overall prospect in 2021 class

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

Wisconsin’s 2021 recruiting class just got a lot better.

Tuesday night, 5-star offensive tackle Nolan Rucci gave his verbal pledge to Wisconsin, picking the Badgers over several big-time programs. Rucci had also been considering Clemson, Michigan, Notre Dame and Penn State before making a verbal commitment.

Rucci becomes the 17th prospect in the 2021 class to commit to Wisconsin. He’s the second 5-star offensive lineman to commit to Paul Chryst and company in the past three recruiting classes. The Badgers also received a pledge from Logan Brown, a 5-star talent, as a member of the 2019 class.

From 247Sports recruiting analyst Barton Simmons:

Huge offensive line prospect with length, an athletic build and one of the more unique body types you will find. Plays with good knee bend and leverage for a player of his size. Coordinated and fluid as a second level blocker. Overwhelms defenders with size and force. Finishes blocks and runs his feet through contact. Has innate punch. Length and balance to be a high-end pass protector.

Rucci is a native of Lititz, Pennsylvania and lists as a 6-foot-8, 295-pound tackle. He ranks as the top overall prospect out of Pennsylvania and the No. 5 offensive tackle in the class. Overall, Rucci ranks as the No. 14 prospect of the cycle, regardless of position.

With Rucci’s commitment, Wisconsin now owns the third-best recruiting class in the B1G, behind Ohio State and Michigan. The Badgers sit at No. 16 in the national rankings.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB