The Badgers have gained another commitment to the 2025 class. This is what stands out.
On Sunday, four-star cornerback Rukeem Stroud announced his commitment to the Wisconsin Badgers, becoming the school’s 13th commitment to their 2025 recruiting class.
The Florida native resorted to social media to make it official.
Here’s a look at the most recent addition to the 2025 class and what stands out.
According to the aggregate rankings, Stroud is the No. 434 player in the country, the No. 36 cornerback, and the No. 58 player in Florida.
Prior to committing to Wisconsin, the Tampa Bay Tech standout received 28 scholarship offers from major institutions such as Penn State, Nebraska, Minnesota, Ole Miss, South Florida, Texas A&M, Louisville, Kansas State, and many others.
It came down to Wisconsin and South Florida, but UW was able to end Stroud’s recruiting during his official visit before he traveled to USF later in June.
Cornerbacks coach Paul Haynes handled the heavy lifting in the four-star prospect’s recruitment, and thanks to his commitment, Haynes has already signed three defensive backs for the 2025 season.
Wisconsin Badgers Commit Rukeem Stroud: Scouting Report
Wisconsin presently has commitments from two more cornerbacks, Jai’mier Scott and Remington Moss. Those two are versatile enough to play safeties or cornerbacks, but Stroud may be an excellent match as a boundary corner.
MaxPreps reports that the 5-foot-11, 160-pound cornerback from Tampa Bay Tech High School has 18 tackles, 17 pass breakups, six interceptions, 2.0 TFLs, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery during his junior season.
Stroud’s ball skills are one of the most impressive aspects of his game. He demonstrates excellent anticipation with his ability to jump routes and secure interceptions, and when he has the ball, he is dangerous in the open field.
Stroud is a quick cornerback, as proven by his highlights and breakaway speed on several pick-sixes. Stroud raced 10.75, 10.84, and 10.95 seconds in the 100-meter dash this spring, and his lightning-quick closing speed and acceleration translate well to the field.
Though he may gain weight, Stroud’s length and quickness could make him an excellent match in Mike Tressel’s defense. The Badgers have been looking for longer, more athletic cornerbacks since altering their defensive strategy, and the 5-foot-11 cornerback fits the bill.
Stroud’s ball skills, speed, and athleticism make him a standout in pass coverage. When in press, he can be tough and disruptive at the line of scrimmage, forcing receivers off their routes early. He also demonstrates outstanding tracking abilities and possesses the twitchiness and range to stay up with wide receivers on an island.
Overall, Wisconsin is gaining an athletic speedster in the secondary with the potential to thrive. Luke Fickell and his staff have a track record of developing defensive backs, and Stroud might be one of the next in line given his skill set.
The Wisconsin Badgers presently have 13 commitments for the 2025 recruiting cycle, ranking No. 15 in the country according to the aggregate rankings.
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