Badgers Announce Football Recruits
February 05, 2003 | Football
Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez announced the 2003 Wisconsin football recruiting class Wednesday at the McClain Auditorium on campus.
Alvarez's announcement came at a press conference that was webcast live here at UWBADGERS.COM. That press conference is archived here, as well.
Following is a list of the Badger recruits with biographical information.
JOSH BALTS
RB/DB, 6-1, 220
Barron, Wis.
Barron High
Two-time football team MVP ' captained football and basketball teams his senior year ' earned football all-region and all-conference honors as senior ' rushed for 2,100 yards and 20 touchdowns in 11-game career ' led conference in rushing as a junior with 1,250 yards and 12 TDs on his way to all-region honors ' top-ranked male (academically) and No. 2 overall student in his class ' two-year National Honor Society member ' coached at Barron High by Ken Mueller ' parents are Bill and Shelly Balts ' born Aug. 12, 1984.
MARCUS COLEMAN
OL, 6-6, 305
Plymouth, Minn.
Wayzata High
Ranked among top 75 players in Midwest and top five players in Minnesota by Rivals.com ' rated among top 55 players in Midwest by SuperPrep ' captained football team his senior year when he earned first-team all-conference, all-metro and all-state honors ' all-conference in football as a junior ' lettered in wrestling, track and football as a prep ' undefeated JV wrestler as a sophomore and won ninth grade state wrestling title as freshman ' coached by Brad Anderson at Wayzata High ' parents are Roger Coleman and Joan Grossman ' father played football at Illinois (1973-74) ' born Nov. 17, 1984.
JAMAL COOPER
TE/DE, 6-4, 210
St. Louis, Mo.
Hazelwood East High
Ranked among top 90 players in Midlands and top 10 players in Missouri according to Rivals.com ' PrepStar All-American ' all-state defensive end who earned all-conference honors as a senior at defensive end and tight end ' team captain and MVP his senior season ' registered 507 receiving yards, 78 tackles and seven QB sacks as a senior ' also played basketball as a prep ' coached by Corey Johnson at Hazelwood East High, the same school that produced former Badgers Terrell and Jamar Fletcher and current Badgers Scott Starks and Brandon Williams ' parents are James Cooper and JoAnn Gill ' born July 14, 1985.
KENNETH DeBAUCHE
P, 6-2, 195
Suamico, Wis.
Bay Port High
Honorable mention all-state in 2002 ' first-team all-area as punter in 2002 and first-team all-area kicker in 2001 ' first-team all-conference punter and kicker, as well as receiver his senior year ' career 44.3-yard punting average and caught 27 passes for 470 yards and seven TDs ' scored 50 points (six TDs plus field goals and PATs) as a senior ' three-time letterwinner in football, basketball and baseball ' second-team all-conference pitcher as a junior ' basketball team captain as a senior ' coached by Mike Williquette at Bay Port High ' National Honor Society member and honor roll student ' parents are Steven and Jean DeBauche ' born Sept. 26, 1984.
TYLER DONOVAN
QB, 6-1, 176
Hartland, Wis.
Arrowhead High
Ranked among top 25 players in Midwest and No. 2 player in Wisconsin by Rivals.com ' listed among top 15 players in Midwest by SuperPrep ' senior year honors included: PrepStar and SuperPrep All-American, Associated Press state player of the year, first-team all-state acclaim from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and first-team all-area and all-conference kudos ' honorable mention all-state and first-team all-area as a junior ' a Preps Plus student-athlete and member of Principal's Advisory Committee ' completed 99-171 passes for 1,650 yards and 16 TDs, as well as rushing for 455 yards on just 45 carries his senior year ' team was state Division I runner-up in 2002 ' lettered in football, basketball, track and baseball ' coached at Arrowhead High by Tom Taraska ' parents are Brenda and Brian Donovan ' uncle, Corey Block, played basketball at UW-LaCrosse (1986-89) ' born June 4, 1984.
CASEY HOGAN
WR/DB, 6-5, 195
Cross Plains, Wis.
Middleton High
Honorable mention all-conference selection as defensive back and wide receiver his senior year ' first-team all-area and all-conference DB as a junior ' earned Honorary Award for Performance and Leadership Excellence in football, as well as football award for academic excellence ' participated in more than 1,100 plays his senior year while making 42 receptions and 79 tackles, along with 11 pass breakups and four interceptions ' lettered in football, basketball and baseball ' captained football and basketball teams ' National Honor Society ' coached at Middleton High by Kurt Gundlach ' parents are Jan and Rita Hogan ' father played baseball at Madison Area Technical College in 1974-75 ' born Feb. 2, 1985.
JAMES KAMOKU
DB, 6-2, 200
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Kealakehe High
Second-team all-state and first-team all-conference selection as linebacker his senior year ' two-time team MVP ' named team's 'most inspirational' and best all-around player ' career statistics included 134 tackles, four QB sacks, seven interceptions (two returned for TDs), two blocked punts, four blocked field goals, 1,653 receiving yards and 38 TDs ' also faked five punts for 312 yards ' had 102 tackles, two interceptions, a 96-yard kickoff return, 597 receiving yards and 15 TDs as a senior ' four-time team captain and two-time team MVP ' lettered in football, basketball and track ' honor roll student who had highest GPA on football team ' listed hobbies include chess, rugby, hula, fire-dancing, surfing, body boarding, hunting, diving and fishing ' coached by Sam Papalili at Kealakehe High ' parents are Solomon and Lorraine Kamoku ' born Feb. 5, 1985.
DANNY KAYE
OL, 6-8, 285
New Berlin, Wis.
Eisenhower High
Listed among top 40 players in Midwest by SuperPrep ' ranked among top 50 players in Midwest, top 30 tight ends nationally and top five players in Wisconsin by Rivals.com ' PrepStar all-region selection ' captained football team as a senior while earning All-America and All-Midwest honors ' three-time all-conference choice in football ' helped lead team to 2002 conference title and into state Division 3 quarterfinals in 2001 and 2002 ' career statistics included 328 tackles (44 TFLs and 24 QB sacks) and 12 forced fumbles ' played on offensive line that paved the way for three straight 1,000-yard rushers ' four-year basketball letterwinner who was team MVP and all-conference selection as a junior when he helped lead team to state regional title ' played varsity hoops as a freshman ' coached by Jeff Setz at New Berlin's Eisenhower High ' parents are Robert Kaye and Donna Ohm ' born Sept. 6, 1984.
BRANDON KELLY
LB, 6-4, 220
Bedford, Ohio
Bedford High
Listed among top 85 players in Midwest by SuperPrep ' ranked among top 45 outside linebackers nationally by Rivals.com ' rated No. 2 linebacker in Ohio by Bill Kurelic and No. 6 athlete in the Midwest by Student Sports his senior year ' 2002 state finalist for Wendy's High School Heisman ' National Honor Society member ' football team captain as junior and senior ' career prep totals include 1,300 all-purpose yards, 150 tackles, four interceptions and five forced fumbles ' rushed for 500 yards, made 60 tackles, forced three fumbles and registered one interception as a senior ' 350 yards rushing and 40 tackles as a junior ' lettered in football, baseball and track ' coached by Jim Hodakeovic at Bedford High ' same high school that produced former Badger Chris Chambers (now with Miami Dolphins) and current Badgers Lee Evans and Dontez Sanders ' parents are Bennie and Lucretia Kelly ' born Feb. 23, 1985.
LUKE KNAUF
OL, 6-4, 295
Stratford, Wis.
Stratford High
Ranked among top 40 offensive tackles in the nation, top 85 players in the Midwest and top four players in Wisconsin by Rivals.com ' listed among top 25 interior linemen nationally by Tom Lemming ' PrepStar all-region selection ' named state's offensive player of the year by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association ' first-team all-state selection by Associated Press and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2002 ' two-time Marawood Conference lineman of the year ' team captain and MVP his senior year ' 99 total tackles, including four QB sacks and five TFLs, along with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2002 ' four-year honor roll student and member of National Honor Society ' lettered in football, track and basketball ' coached by Cal Tackes at Stratford High ' parents are Thomas and Carol Knauf ' born March 13, 1984.
ERNEST MASON
WR, 6-0, 180
Fort Worth, Texas
Dunbar High
One of top 50 players in the Southwest according to Superprep ' listed by Rivals.com as one of the top 55 cornerbacks in the nation and one of the top 80 players in Texas ' played for West team in 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas ' PrepStar all-region selection ' honorable mention 4A all-state choice ' district offensive MVP as a senior ' career totals included 40 receptions, 17 touchdowns, four interceptions and 1,744 all-purpose yards ' had four rushing TDs, 11 receiving TDs and returned two kickoffs for scores ' team captain and team MVP as a senior ' participated on track team that twice finished third in state in 4-by-400 ' lettered in football, baseball and track ' coached by Bob Jones at Dunbar High (Jones played football for Badger head coach Barry Alvarez at Lexington (Neb.) High) ' prep teammate of fellow UW recruit Michael Turner ' parents are Ernest and Brenda Mason ' born March 25, 1985.
JUSTIN OSTROWSKI
DL, 6-5, 255
Portage, Wis.
Portage High
Senior year honors included: Parade All-American, Wisconsin Football Coaches Association co-defensive player of the year (with fellow UW recruit Joe Thomas), Gatorade state player of the year, unanimous first-team all-state selection, PrepStar Eastbay Top 100 Dream Team, SuperPrep All-America team, Tom Lemming's national Top 100 list, Rivals.com's national The Rivals 100 list ' ranked as No. 8 defensive tackle in the nation by Tom Lemming ' No. 2 defensive end in the nation, No. 4 player in the Midwest and No. 1 player in Wisconsin according to Rivals.com ' four-time all-conference and all-region choice in football ' team captain and MVP in 2002 ' career statistics include 318 total tackles, 30 QB sacks, 28 TFLs, one interception and a TD ' had 108 tackles, 14 QB sacks and 15 TFLs his senior year ' four-year letterwinner in basketball and was first-team all-conference in hoops as a sophomore and junior ' earned two track letters and one baseball letter ' second-team all-conference baseball player as a sophomore ' coached by Jeff Wiessinger at Portage High ' parents are Jim and Kim Ostrowski ' born Sept. 14, 1984.
RODERICK ROGERS
DB, 6-2, 185
Stone Mountain, Ga.
Stephenson High
Listed among top 40 safeties in the nation and players in Georgia by Rivals.com ' Class 5A honorable mention all-state choice by Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2002 ' two-year team captain and MVP as a senior ' 261 career tackles, along with 13 interceptions, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and four touchdowns ' five interceptions and three TDs his senior year ' lettered in track, football and wrestling ' two-time honor roll student ' coached by Ron Gartrell at Stephenson High ' parents are Roy and Althea Rogers ' born Sept. 7, 1984.
DAN ROSCOE
OL, 6-5, 305
Plymouth, Minn.
Wayzata High
Two-time all-conference selection ' three-time football and two-time track letterwinner ' coached at Wayzata High by Brad Anderson ' parents are Dwight and Gayle Roscoe ' born May 5, 1985.
LUKE SWAN
WR, 6-0, 185
Fennimore, Wis.
Fennimore High
PrepStar all-region selection ' two-time all-state selection by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association ' twice named first-team all-conference and all-area ' career statistics included 121 receptions, 2,234 yards and 26 touchdowns, along with 18 interceptions ' had 72 catches, 1,443 yards, 17 TDs and 10 interceptions as a junior ' also lettered in track, basketball and baseball ' captained football and basketball teams ' earned team MVP honors in football and track ' two-time all-conference selection in hoops ' two-time conference long jump champion, who also won track titles in 100-meter dash, 300 intermediate hurdles and 200-meter dash as a junior ' coached at Fennimore High by Tom Uecker ' National Honor Society member ' Who's Who Among High School Students ' parents are Scott and Chris Swan ' born Sept. 5, 1984.
JOE THOMAS
TE, 6-8, 260
Brookfield, Wis.
Central High
No. 4 offensive tackle in the nation according to Tom Lemming ' among top 20 offensive tackles nationally, top 25 players in the Midwest and No. 3 player in Wisconsin according to Rivals.com ' Prep Star All-American ' second-team All-America offensive tackle according to USA Today ' member of Detroit Free Press All-Midwest team ' Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first-team all-state defensive lineman and second-team all-state offensive tackle as a senior ' also first-team all-state honors at DE from Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and Associated Press ' WFCA 2002 Defensive Player of the Year with fellow UW recruit Justin Ostrowski ' 85 tackles and 12 QB sacks as a senior and 70 tackles and eight sacks as a junior ' three-time all-conference selection ' four-year letterwinner in football, track and basketball ' captained football and basketball team his senior year ' finished fifth in nationals in shot put as a junior ' all-conference, all-area and all-state selection in shot put and discus ' four-year honor roll student ' U.S. Army Academic All-America team ' coached in football by Rick Synold at Brookfield Central High ' parents are Eric and Sally Thomas ' born Dec. 4, 1984.
BRANDON TOBIAS
WR, 6-5, 215
Chicago, Ill.
Thornton High
Tabbed as one of top 80 receivers nationally and one of top 20 players in Illinois by Rivals.com ' PrepStar all-region choice ' all-area selection as a senior ' team captain as a junior and senior ' career totals include 2,741 yards and 26 touchdowns ' career highs of 982 yards and 11 TDs his senior year ' coached at Thornton High by William Mosel ' mother is Loyola Moore ' born Sept. 12, 1984.
MICHAEL TURNER
RB, 5-10, 185
Fort Worth, Texas
Dunbar High
PrepStar All-American ' rated as No. 4 all-purpose back in nation, No. 26 player in Texas and No. 36 player in Midlands according to Rivals.com ' among top 60 players in Texas according to SuperPrep ' first-team 4A all-state team by Associated Press and second-team all-state by Texas sportswriters his senior year ' two-time district offensive MVP ' three-time, first-team all-district choice ' team captain his senior year ' career totals included 4,770 rushing yards (9.1-yard average) and 60 touchdowns ' also returned kicks and punts ' rushed for 1,964 yards and 27 TDs as a senior in 2002 ' played strong safety on defense ' lettered in football and track ' member of 4-by-400 relay team that finished third at state meet in 2001 and had fastest time in the nation (3:12) ' homecoming king ' coached by Bob Jones at Dunbar High (Jones played football for Badger head coach Barry Alvarez at Lexington (Neb.) High) ' prep teammate of fellow UW recruit Ernest Mason ' mother's name is Barbara Turner ' born May 1, 1984.
MIKE VAN SOMEREN
OL, 6-7, 295
Somerset, Wis.
Somerset High
Honorable mention all-state choice as a senior by Associated Press and Wisconsin Football Coaches Association ' three-time all-conference selection ' career statistics included 80 tackles, five QB sacks and seven TFLs ' football team captain as a senior ' three-year letterwinner in football, basketball and track ' coached at Somerset High by Bruce Larson ' National Honor Society member ' parents are Mike and Karen Van Someren ' born Oct. 6, 1984.
KURT WARE
TE, 6-4, 243
Spring, Texas
Klein Oak High
PrepStar all-region choice ' rated among top 40 strongside defensive ends nationally and one of top 100 players in Texas by Rivals.com ' made 10 catches for 197 yards and one TD his senior year ' 30 tackles, including eight TFLs, as a junior ' lettered in football and basketball ' two-time team hoops MVP and second-team all-district as a junior on the hardwood ' coached at Klein Oak High by David Smith ' parents are Kevin and Wilma Ware ' brother Kevin Jr. played football at Washington from 1999-02 ' born Feb. 17, 1985.
ANDREW WEININGER
OL, 6-6, 305
Harrison, N.Y.
Harrison High
SuperPrep All-American and second-ranked player in New York ' PrepStar Dream Team ' rated one of top 70 offensive tackles in the nation and one of top 100 players in the Atlantic region by Rivals.com ' two-time first-team all-state selection by New York State Sportswriters Association ' also twice named all-county and three-time all-conference choice ' played on state championship teams as a freshman and senior and earned game defensive MVP honor in 2002 ' member of New York's Golden 50 team ' team captain and MVP his senior year ' two-way starter his last three years of football ' he 's the winningest player in school history (teams were 40-5 during his career) ' four-year letterwinner in both football and golf ' also earned one basketball letter ' three-time all-conference golfer ' a seven-handicap golfer ' wrote weekly 'player's diary' for local newspaper ' coached at Harrison High by Art Troilo Jr. ' parents are Bob and Nancy Weininger ' born May 1, 1985.
JOHNNY WHITE
DB, 6-2, 202
Pearland, Texas
Pearland High
PrepStar honorable mention all-region selection ' career prep totals include 51 receptions for 948 yards, 165 tackles, six interceptions and five touchdowns ' second-team all-district wide receiver and honorable mention all-district defensive back as a senior ' captained team his senior year when he caught 22 passes for 462 yards and registered 75 tackles and two interceptions ' made 16 catches for 246 yards and notched 50 tackles and three interceptions as a junior ' earned four letters in track, three in football and two in basketball ' first-team all-district guard for basketball team as a junior ' district high jump champion his junior year when he was a regional qualifier in the high and triple jump ' qualified for regionals in high, triple and long jump as sophomore and was district triple jump champion that year ' coached by Tony Heath at Pearland High ' parents are Johnny and Beverly White ' born June 23, 1985.
