An intriguing defensive player from Middleton decommitted from the University of Wisconsin football team’s 2025 recruiting class and has committed to the Badgers’ archrival, Minnesota.
Middleton defensive end Torin Pettaway tweeted late Thursday night he was reopening his recruitment, then tweeted his commitment to the Gophers one minute later. Pettaway’s flip drops the Badgers to eight verbal commitments in the 2025 class.
Pettaway’s first season of playing football was last fall, but he’s generated a good deal of recruiting interest despite his inexperience. He holds seven offers from Big Ten programs, per 247Sports, and is a three-star recruit.
He told BadgerExtra shortly after his commitment to Wisconsin earlier this month that his connection with the Badgers staff was a significant factor in his decision .
“I wasn't thinking like, ‘Damn, I'm a few minutes down the road,’” Pettaway said. “It felt warming, all the coaches came with a lot of energy, were extremely welcoming, and I (definitely know) they're going to be a great support system when playing at the next level.
“... But I bonded extremely well with the coaches, and it felt like home regardless of where I live at.”
The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder seemed to like the plan the Badgers had for him under defensive line coach EJ Whitlow.
“It’s kind of the original plan, kind of seeing me off that edge,” Pettaway said. “... A dual pressure. Just a dude who’s disruptive on the defense and makes it hard for that quarterback, just hard for that offense in general to gain yards and have successful plays. Whether that's hunkering down and stopping the run or applying pressure on the pass that the receivers don't have enough time to get open.”
Wisconsin has verbal commitments from the following 2025 recruits: quarterback Landyn Locke ; defensive backs Cody Haddad , Remington Moss and Jai’mier Scott ; offensive lineman Michael Roeske ; inside linebacker Cooper Catalano and outside linebackers Brenden Anes and Samuel Lateju .
Photos: Wisconsin football hosts first spring practice of 2024
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell speaks with his players during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver C.J. Williams (4) catches a pass during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Mabrey Mettauer (11) makes a pass in front of Wisconsin Badgers offensive coordinator Phil Longo during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator Mike Tressel speaks to his players during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman Mike Jarvis (97) participates during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers offensive coordinator Phil Longo claps during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Michael Mack (7) catches a pass during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers safety Justin Taylor (25) runs the ball back after intercepting a pass during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Grady O'Neill (26) catches a pass during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Quincy Burroughs (5) catches a pass during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers outside linebackers/special teams coach Matt Mitchell speaks to his players during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Braedyn Locke (18), Tyler Van Dyke (10), and Mabrey Mettauer (11) participate in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Nick Evers (7) makes a pass during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Braedyn Locke (18) hands the ball off during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers safety Austin Brown (9), Charlie Jarvis (34), Kamo'i Latu (13) and Braedyn Moore (20) participate in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers cornerbacks coach Paul Haynes speak to players during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers safeties and co-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch speaks to players during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Cam Fane (21) participates in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Cam Fane (21) catches a pass during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman Mike Jarvis (97) participates in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow leads a drill during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Jack Nelson (79) gets into a scuffle with Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Anelu Lafaele (51) during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Jack Nelson (79) gets into a scuffle with Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Anelu Lafaele (51) during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman Mike Jarvis (97), nose tackle Curt Neal (92), defensive lineman Cade McDonald (96) and defensive lineman Ernest Wilor Jr. (93) participate in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers tight ends coach Nate Letton watches the players during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (10) makes a pass during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver C.J. Williams (4) catches a pass during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Bryson Green (9) participates in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers safeties and co-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch speaks with safety Justin Taylor (25) during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Bryson Green (9) catches a pass during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Alex Moeller (30) catches a pass during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin running backs Jackson Acker, second from left, Cade Yacamelli, Chez Mellusi and Nate White, right, participate in the Badgers' first spring practice on March 22.
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Wisconsin Badgers cornerback A.J. Tisdell (29) and cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean (10) participate in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin linebacker Jake Chaney, center, and linebacker Tackett Curtis, right, participate in the first spring practice March 22 at the McClain Center.
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Tyrell Henry (14) catches a pass during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin cornerback RJ Delancy III participates in the Badgers first spring practice on March 22 at the McClain Center.
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Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator Mike Tressel watches his players during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers running back Tawee Walker (3) runs the ball during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell speaks to his players during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers running backs coach Devon Spalding speaks to his players during the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow participates in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receivers Haakon Anderson (27) and Vinny Anthony II (86) participate in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton participates in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin wide receiver CJ Williams catches a pass during the first spring practice March 22 at the McClain Center.
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Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Jaheim Thomas (7) participates in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers safety Justin Taylor (25) participates in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Jake Renfro (57) participates in the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell speaks to the media after the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell speaks to the media after the first spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 22, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
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