Sometimes in recruiting, a prospect will land at a program that fits his skillset perfectly. Whether it’s a long and athletic defensive lineman picking Georgia, a gifted quarterback going to play for Lincoln Riley or an athletic offensive lineman with size picking Alabama, those pieces fit like a puzzle. Wisconsin found their perfect fit on Thursday with the commitment of Mason Posa. The Top247 linebacker from Albuquerque (NM) La Cueva chose the Badgers over Oregon and Texas A&M among a host of other offers.
It’s not just the obvious talent that makes this an important win for the Badgers, but Posa’s blue-collar playing style and throwback game fits the culture Luke Fickell is building in Madison. More importantly, a linebacker of his status belongs in a conference like the Big 10. Traditional linebackers are going extinct in some conferences. As the need to cover space against wide-open offenses increases, hybrids have become more en vogue. Finding an oversized safety that can run and hit while providing coverage has been the emphasis.
In the Big 10, there’s still room for a player who thrives between the tackles. That’s not to say Posa can’t cover. His rugged physical game and big body masks a skillset of functional athleticism. His best trait is his background in wrestling. Multi-sport participation has been an emphasis for the 247Sports scouting team over the last few years, and Posa has an exceptional background in wrestling. That background translates well to the football field and can be found in many NFL Draft prospects at the position.
