The Wisconsin Badgers suffered a setback on Thursday as three-star defensive lineman Torin Pettaway decided to change his commitment to the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Originally from Middleton, Wisconsin, Pettaway had been a significant acquisition for the Badgers when he committed three weeks ago. His commitment was seen as a notable achievement because not only did Wisconsin secure a promising local talent, but they also secured one of the state’s top prospects.
#Gophers flip in-state DL Toronto Pettaway. https://t.co/2W4midzbw6
— Bucky’s 5th Quarter (@B5Q) March 29, 2024
However, this excitement was short-lived as Pettaway reversed his decision to commit to the Badgers late on Sunday night, opting instead to commit to Minnesota just a minute later.
This situation marks the second consecutive year where a Wisconsin prospect that garnered interest from the Badgers opted for Minnesota. Last year, four-star offensive lineman Nathan Roy made a similar choice.
Initially, Pettaway had considered Wisconsin his top choice after a visit in February earned him an offer. However, he also acknowledged interest from Nebraska, Rutgers, and Minnesota.
Although his commitment seemed solid at first, Pettaway has had a change of heart, ultimately choosing to join head coach P.J. Fleck and the Gophers.
Despite this setback, it’s premature to count the Badgers out completely, as there is still a significant amount of time before National Signing Day. Nevertheless, Wisconsin will need to adjust their recruiting strategy to fill the vacancies at the defensive lineman position.
Heading into the offseason, Wisconsin had been aiming to recruit 3-4 players for the position, but they are currently left without any commitments from defensive linemen in this recruiting class.
