In the Lab: Building the Perfect WR Recruit

<p>We are back in the lab and today we are focused on building the perfect WR recruit. An athlete with the ability to create a mismatch with size, with his ability before the catch, and his threat after the catch. He needs to be able to dominate at the catch point. Plus he needs a well rounded game and that includes being able to block downfield. This is going to require the best traits from Wisconsin's best athletes. Let's get started with the build!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frame Build</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">In previous positions we went with the bigger is always best mentality in this category of the build. However, while we are still looking for that we have to make sure we go with an athlete that is a WR and not one that is built more like a TE. [player_tooltip player_id='1209295' first='Jonah' last='Wenzler'] of Homestead fits that perfectly. He has the elite size and length to win out wide, create mismatches with his size and reach, plus win jump balls and overpower DBs in general. While searching through the WRs it was clear that his frame is exactly what we want to build around.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Speed Build</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Speed, speed, and more speed. That is what Ryan brings to the field and that is what our Perfect WR Recruit needs to have. Ryan is a decorated track athlete who has also had succeed carrying that speed to the gridiron. The junior WR has 4.50 40 speed, and 10.67 100M dash speed. It is speed that can get our WR off the line and behind the defense before a safety can get across the field to make a stop. Ryan is a dangerous weapon with his speed. In 2024 he only was able to play two games yet scored 3 times and put up 240 all purpose yards. He is a game-breaking weapon.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Physicality Build</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Having a guy like WR1 Chris Kiel available for this exercise is very handy. He fits into so many categories because of his loaded skill set. In the end I had to go with his physicality that he brings to the position. You see it in the way he attacks his routes, the way he fits through contact to make the catch, and the way he runs with the ball after the catch. Kiel has plenty of strength and isn't afraid to play tough. With the size and speed we have built to this point, having his physicality on top of it has us well on our way to creating the Perfect WR Recruit.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Route Running Build</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">One of the easier choices in this build was [player_tooltip player_id='533176' first='Harper' last='Hughes'] for the route running that we want our Perfect WR Recruit to have. Harper has a great blend of route running and route savvy to his game. He is able to set up defenders and make them bite or commit with head fakes or double moves, and his more standard route tree is just as effective because of his physical tools. Harper has excellent balance and body control and that allows him to attack breaks quickly, and explode to top speed out of them. That very little sacrifice of speed allows him to create separation. The junior has so much proven success attacking every level of the defense. His route running is a must for this build.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hands Build</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">We could have done this build last year and Tay would have still been the selection. The senior WR has some of the best, if not the best, hands in WI. He is able to make every catch with confidence away from his body. The senior is outstanding and playing above the rim and getting the ball at its high point. Plus he is outstanding at securing the catch through traffic because of how strong his hands are. Get it somewhere that the senior WR can get his hands on it and he will usually find a way to somehow come down with it.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Blocking Build</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Carter is an effective blocker out wide. He has the size and strength to overwhelm his opponent physically. Carter is able to stalk block or get hands on and drive his man to the sideline or back inside so his man can cut off him. The senior does well to get off the line and close on his target quickly so that they can't try to slip around him out in space. To be a perfect recruit you need to check every box, and blocking is part of the game. We need this talent from Carter for our build.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ball Tracking Build</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">I wasn't expecting to use a sophomore in this category when building the perfect WR recruit, but Hewitt's ability to track and adjust to the ball is already some of the best in the state. It is throughout his highlights. The ability to twist midair, cut the route short, cross the DBs face to get the better leverage on a jump ball. Over and over the 2027 shows that he is able to so quickly judge the flight of the ball and position himself so that he can have the best chance at going and getting the football. When the ball is in the air we need our Perfect WR Recruit to be able to do what Zach does.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Playmaker Build</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">With all the traits above coming together to make the perfect recruit it seemed like we had everything covered. However, there was one thing we still needed. The raw ability to make plays. To make something out of nothing. To be able to change the game with just a few touches. The best illustration of that talent is 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='700021' first='Lamont' last='Hamilton']. Lamont can flip the field or reel in the long TD catch. You can have him return kicks. Find a way to get the ball in his hands and great, exciting things happen. That threat to score on any catch/touch is the perfect final addition to our Perfect WR Build.</p>

We are back in the lab and today we are focused on building the perfect WR recruit. An athlete with the ability to create a mismatch with size, with his ability before the catch, and his threat after the catch. He needs to be able to dominate at the catch point. Plus he needs a well rounded game and that includes being able to block downfield. This is going to require the best traits from Wisconsin's best athletes. Let's get started with the build!