QB commits to Badgers
Jul 15, 2007
Madison The first quarterback to the commit to the University of Wisconsin's 2007 class is a pure pocket passer who runs a shotgun, spread attack at Dakota High School in Macomb, Mich.
James Stallons, who stands 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds, led his team to the Class A (large schools) semifinals the past two seasons. He committed to the Badgers on Thursday, increasing the total of known commitments for the class to five.
Stallons committed to UW without bothering to wait for a possible offer from nearby Michigan State, which has two former Dakota players on its roster. He attended camp there Monday and said the coaching staff planned to tell him if he'd have a scholarship offer this week.
"That wouldn't have changed my mind, so I committed to Wisconsin," Stallons said.
Stallons, who threw for about 2,300 yards last season, said he received offers from Miami (Ohio) and Eastern Michigan, and that Purdue, Iowa and Michigan State were showing strong interest.
Macomb, which is 30 minutes north of Detroit, isn't far from Fraser, Mich., the hometown of former Badger Jim Sorgi. Dakota coach Mike Giannone said Stallons' ability was similar to Sorgi's as a prep.
"He's a great leader," Giannone said. "He's got a photographic memory. He throws the deep ball extremely well and he's quick. He's not fast but he's quick, so he's really elusive."
The Badgers are known to have received commitments from four other players for 2007: St. Francis offensive lineman Josh Oglesby, Platteville defensive end / athlete Louis Nzegwu, Middleton receiver Nick Toon and safety Donte Neal of Arlington, Texas.
