One of the top rising seniors in Southwest Florida is coming off the board.
St. John Neumann wide receiver Jayden Petit announced his commitment to Wisconsin on June 26. The four-star is ranked as the No. 8 receiver in the USA TODAY Florida Top 100.
Petit named the Badgers after taking summertime visits to UCLA, Miami, North Carolina, and Madison. He confirmed with USA TODAY’s Florida Network that he has 100-percent shut down his recruitment.
“Academics was a big thing for me,” Petit told USA TODAY. “I want to go into commercial real estate after football and Wisconsin is ranked No. 1 in the nation for real estate. The relationships and the culture was second to none. I just felt at home in Madison.”
Petit reeled in 50 catches for 777 yards and 12 touchdowns last year at First Baptist. He spent time on the other side of the ball at edge rusher, and tallied 3.5 sacks and seven TFL.
He joins former Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith (Class of 2025) as the latest SWFL native to commit to head coach Luke Fickell and company. Petit says the chance to play against elite programs was enticing to him.
“It doesn’t hurt that they play also play great competition in the Big Ten,” he said. “My first game could potentially be against Notre Dame my freshman year.”
Who is Jayden Petit, Wisconsin football commit?
Position: Wide Receiver
Height, Weight: 6-4, 195 pounds
2024 Stats: 50 catches, 777 yards, 12 TDs, 21 tackles, 7 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 7 QB hurries, 1 pass defended, 1 FF (MaxPreps)
Honors: Naples Daily News All-Area Football Offense First Team (2023, 2024), Naples Daily All-Area Basketball First Team (2025)
USA Today Florida Network Ranking: No. 48 (No. 8 wide receiver)
247Sports Composite: 4 star, No. 30 player in Florida, No. 31 WR in the nation
Also plays: Basketball
Scouting report: Petit is an elite athlete that is a lob threat on the gridiron and and on the court. He dices up defenders with crisp route running and long strides, and is also effective on the edge on defense. His length and mobility make him a dynamic playmaker, and he has the tools to succeed on either side of the ball.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Florida Top 100 WR Jayden Petit commits to Wisconsin football, shuts down recruitment
Reporting by Nick Wilson, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
