Grading the wide receiver additions in the 2022 class

The Wisconsin badgers signed 14 scholarship players during the early signing period of the 2022 recruiting cycle this past Wednesday. And while that number is subject to change, Wisconsin’s class currently ranks 44th in the country, and 11th in the Big Ten – with an average recruiting ranking of (0.87), per 247 sports.

In part three of a position by position recruiting evaluation series, I will be handing out grades for each position from the early signing period.

So, without further ado, here is my wide receiver evaluation.

WIDE RECEIVER: B-

Commits (2): Tommy McIntosh, Vinny Anthony

Total offers: (15)

Wisconsin didn’t exactly bring in anything that puts them over the top in this wide receiver class, but they did make some really solid additions.

Wisconsin is going to be looking at a total makeover of their core receivers for next season. They’ll be without Danny Davis, Kendric Pryor, and Jack Dunn. That leaves a significant amount of snaps needing to be filled.

Chimere Dike and Markus Allen are the leaders in the clubhouse to fill those roles, but who earns snaps behind them is anyone’s guess at this point.

It was imperative that Wisconsin add multiple players at this position, and thankfully they did.

Tommy McIntosh:

Tommy McIntosh out of DeWitt, Michigan is a three-star recruit per 247 sports.

Rankings: 772nd nationally, 114th WR, 21st ranked player in MI.

McIntosh is a big bodied (6-foot-5) downfield threat who recorded 64 receptions for 1,328 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior.

The thing that makes McIntosh so enticing is that he runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and has a 36-inch vertical leap – those are things you can’t teach.

He’s in a different mold than any other pass-catcher already in the receiving room, and it’s easy to see the upside here if he’s able to put it all together. A player with his kind of size could really help impact the game as a run blocker – which we know is something UW frequently asks of it pass-catchers.

McIntosh is a player who could develop into a downfield threat that would make for a tough match-up on the boundary.

Vinny Anthony:

Vinny Anthony is another high upside three-star recruit out of Louisville, Kentucky.

Rankings: 709th nationally, 100th WR, 5th ranked player in KY.

As a senior Anthony recorded 49 receptions for 1,108 yards with 16 touchdowns.

Vinny Anthony is a strong route runner, but what really stands out is his ability to high point the ball. This is also a player that could potentially help as a return man down the road – which is an area the program has been lacking.

Vinny Anthony has the makings of a nice possession receiver for UW, and has the quickness and size to play either inside or out on the boundary.

Conclusion:

I am a fan of these additions to the wide receiver room, however, it’s impossible to know what they’ve got right now. Both are high risk, high reward type of players at this point – but sometimes that’s what you’re going to have to shoot for to find a Cephus level difference maker in the passing game.

Wisconsin is never going to be a destination school for a wide receiver, but they got two players here with good size and athleticism.

Other evaluations: QB | RB

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