Badgers Get 2nd SoFLA Commit

The Wisconsin Badgers have received their second commitment from a South Florida prospect in as many weeks. Last week Northeast’s David Gilbert let the nation know he was heading to Wisconsin. After visiting Madison this weekend St. Thomas Aquinas linebacker Conor O’Neill told the coaching staff at Wisconsin he was heading north as well.

“I went in to my head coaches office today around one o’clock,” said O’Neill. “Both he and I talked to Bielema first, then he handed the phone off to Coach Doeren and Coach Partridge and I just let all of them know.”

The electric feeling that came over O’Neill during the Ohio State game and the prospects of early playing time helped make his decision.

“It was just the feel I got up there. The atmosphere, I love the campus, and you can’t go wrong with an education from one of the top ten public colleges in the nation. Also I have a chance I to compete for a starting spot my freshman year, I didn’t have an opportunity like that at any other schools I was recruited by. I fell in love with Wisconsin.

“They [coaches] told me that since they are going to be graduating two seniors, [DeAndre] Levy and [Jonathan] Casillas, and they haven’t recruited any outside linebackers except for me and A.J. Fenton from Erie, Pennsylvania. They said we are the two they wanted and they landed him about a week ago. I’ve been in touch with him the past few weeks even before he committed. I just feel comfortable knowing I’d be going to a great school like Wisconsin.”

Fellow Broward County star,  Stedman Bailey wide receiver from Miramar, took an official visit to Wisconsin with O’Neill this weekend as well. Bailey is also looking at South Carolina and USF. The two spoke during the visit and O’Neill hopes more South Florida prospects follow his and Gilbert’s lead.

“If they can get more Florida guys from down here [South Florida] up there, that would be great, because week in and week out we play against the best competition in the nation. I haven’t talked to Gilbert, but from what I hear from Partridge he’s a really great person and I can’t wait to go to college with him, and hopefully Stedman and a couple other players from down here.”

O’Neill and his St. Thomas Aquinas teammates face Cooper City Friday October 10th before hosting a nationally televised game against Deerfield Beach October 17th.