A running back prospect from Wisconsin pledges commitment to a rival team within the Big Ten conference…

Jace Clarizio made a public announcement on social media declaring his decision to play for Jonathan Smith at Michigan State, opting to remain in his hometown of East Lansing. Clarizio, ranked as the 1086th player nationally, the 79th running back, and the 22nd player in Michigan, turned down offers from various schools including USC, Louisville, and Minnesota, among others.

Despite receiving an offer from Wisconsin in January and visiting the campus multiple times, including an official visit planned for June which is now canceled, Clarizio ultimately chose Michigan State. Wisconsin, yet to secure a running back commitment for the 2025 recruiting class, may only select one given their recent recruitment of three running backs in the 2024 cycle.

Currently, Wisconsin’s football program has amassed 11 commitments for the 2025 recruiting cycle, placing them at the 16th spot nationally in composite rankings. For more updates on Wisconsin Badgers Athletics and Big Ten content, readers can follow BadgerNotes.com on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Additionally, they can subscribe to the newsletter and listen to the BadgerNotes After Dark podcast on various streaming platforms.