The Wisconsin Badgers continue to make moves within the 2027 recruiting class and now have landed among the top programs in line for an Oklahoma recruit.
Dawayne Jones, a three-star defensive lineman from Booker T. Washington (OK), is widely considered to be one of the top players in the state. Jones is currently the eighth-ranked recruit in Oklahoma, the 38th defensive lineman in the class, and the 369th recruit in the class. The defensive lineman holds an impressive list of offers from programs such as LSU, Iowa State, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, and Missouri.
Jones began his high school career at Owasso (OK) as a freshman and the defender was able to record a significant amount of playing time. The defensive lineman finished the season with 16 tackles, four tackles for loss, and one forced fumble.
After transferring and taking developmental steps forward on and off of the field, Jones came back last season and put together an impressive year. Jones recorded 55 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, one forced fumble, and one defensive touchdown. The incredibly productive season resulted in an immediate uptick in the recruit of Jones, which has now led to the recruit making important decisions regarding his collegiate future.
Wisconsin Badgers Move Closer to Dawayne Jones Days After Ranked Win Over Washington Huskies
Jones announced his first list of presumed finalists in his recruitment with 12 programs being named. Among the programs, the Wisconsin Badgers managed to secure a spot on the list after offering Jones a scholarship back in August. The remainder of the list included the following teams:
- Missouri Tigers
- LSU Tigers
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Auburn Tigers
- Arkansas Razorbacks
- Maryland Terrapins
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- Oklahoma State Cowboys
- Kansas State Wildcats
- Kansas Jayhawks
- Arizona State Sun Devils
The defensive lineman has become a hot commodity at the position and understanding why is not difficult given his production and film. The 6-foot-3 defender is lightning fast off of the snap and has the power at the position to push opposing guards backwards with ease. Jones additionally has great vision and a killer instinct when the football is in play.
As a tackler, getting away from the recruit is difficult given his pursuit speed and tendency to keep the play in front of himself. The downhill speed of Jones combined with his notable agility has allowed for major sack numbers to rack-up.
For the Badgers, Jones would not only be a valuable addition within the 2027 class but also a versatile and hard-working look at the defensive line. The Badgers have four defensive linemen set to graduate this season and another six players who will graduate within the next two seasons. Depth and versatility will be needed to keep the room afloat and Jones offers both immediately.
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