MADISON – Power Four programs have come into Wisconsin the past three recruiting cycles and grabbed some of the state’s prep football prospects.
It’s a problem Dustin Roach hopes to help the Wisconsin football program solve.
Roach took the first step Jan. 23 when he announced his commitment to Wisconsin’s 2027 class. The safety from Catholic Memorial High School was the third player to commit to UW for that class. All three are in-state players.
The next step is the behind-the-scenes campaigning that sometimes goes on between committed recruits and targets. Iola Scandinavia tight end Korz Loken, the highest-rated recruit of the group, has been vocal on social media about his aim to help the Badgers build their recruiting class.
Roach is a fan, but his approach is a little different.
“I’m pretty close with some of the recruits in the state, but I’m not as aggressive with it on social media as he is,” Roach said. “But I definitely do like what he’s doing.”
Here is what you need to know about Roach, the first defensive player in the Badgers’ 2027 class.
Dustin Roach is recovering from an ACL injury
Roach’s commitment allows him to focus on something more important: his health. He suffered a torn right ACL during the second game of the basketball season.
“It had a little effect on my decision,” Roach said. “But I definitely knew Wisconsin was a place I need to be and where I want to be. It’s truly like home.”
He said his surgery is complete and that he is off crutches. He hopes to be able to play be able to play by midseason or at least for the playoffs.
The injury from Wisconsin’s perspective highlights the value of identifying targets and offering scholarships early. UW gave Roach his offer Nov. 8 before the Washington game. His only other offers at that point were from Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois.
As is the case with many Division I recruits, he would have likely received many more during the spring. It will be interesting to see how his injury affects the interest other programs give him. A full recovery from ACL injuries is now common.
Safety coach Jack Cooper sealed deal for UW
Roach’s commitment came a few days after a home visit from Badgers safeties coach Jack Cooper. It wasn’t by coincidence.
“I definitely knew Wisconsin was home for a while, but Coach Cooper really connected with me and my family on that home visit,” Roach said. “It was good for my parents to know that where I’m going is a really a good place and that my coach is going to like prioritize me and make sure that I’m taken care of and that I’m held accountable and just making sure I’m turning into a good man and a good football player.”
Roach, who is 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, made 36 tackles last season that included 21 solo stops. He intercepted five passes and returned two for touchdowns. He broke up eight passes.
He was a two-way player for the Crusaders and caught 26 passes for 727 yards, a 28-yard average, and eight touchdowns. It was on that side of the ball that he received honorable mention all-state from the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association.
The interest Roach was receiving as a recruit, however, was to play defense. Cooper took it a step further, offering advice on how Roach could better at safety.
“He showed me throughout the year how much better my tackling got, being more aggressive. That’s still one of the things he really wants me to do better and work at,” Roach said. “I had five interceptions, but he showed me that I could have had like 11 or 12 if my first step was taken back more and if I wasn’t as aggressive with my first step. He was just showing me some like really simple things that can help me and do better.
Dustin Roach was an all-state basketball player last season
Though he is injured, Roach fits the mold of a mult-sport athlete. He received honorable mention all-state from the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association last season.
He began playing that sport before football in the third grade and always loved it.
“I’m so super competitive in anything I do,” he said. “Like, watching the games from the sideline, I just feel myself still getting competitive about it and angry sometimes and just wishing I was out there.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Catholic Memorial’s Dustin Roach breaks down Wisconsin commitment, knee injury
Reporting by Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
