Jesse Temple, ESPN Staff Writer 7y

Andrew Van Ginkel a rare junior college find for Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. -- When Wisconsin's football program dips into the junior college ranks to enlist players, it tends to pique curiosity because of the infrequency with which such signings occur. Naturally, then, outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel's appearance in the Badgers' 2017 recruiting class has created a particularly high level of excitement in those around the program.

If Van Ginkel performs up to expectations this fall, that excitement should permeate Camp Randall Stadium and even the Big Ten.

Van Ginkel, a 6-foot-4, 230-pounder from Rock Valley, Iowa, is the first junior college player to sign with the Badgers in coach Paul Chryst’s three recruiting classes. Few incoming freshmen are prepared to immediately play, particularly at a developmental program like Wisconsin. Van Ginkel, on the other hand, has two full seasons under his belt and will have two years of eligibility remaining. He just might be the perfect fit for the Badgers -- and someone who came along at the absolute right time given the void left behind by the departures of outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Vince Biegel.

"Obviously, we wouldn't have recruited him and brought him in, because we're not a junior college program that goes out and gets many guys," Badgers outside linebackers coach Tim Tibesar said. "He was a guy that we thought fit well from a culture standpoint being a Midwest kid from a small town in Iowa. He's a hardworking kid. He wasn't over-recruited out of high school. We're certainly hopeful that he can step in and be a contributor."

Van Ginkel, who began his college career at South Dakota, said he received no FBS scholarship offers out of high school. He took a redshirt season in 2014 and developed into an absolute monster for the Coyotes in 2015. He tallied 56 tackles with 18 tackles for loss and nine sacks to earn Missouri Valley Football Conference Freshman of the Year honors. He finished third in the balloting for the STATS FCS National Freshman of the Year. But after the season, South Dakota head coach Joe Glenn retired, which prompted Van Ginkel to look elsewhere to play.

Because Van Ginkel had already burned his redshirt year, he went to play at Iowa Western Community College rather than lose another season by transferring up to an FBS program and being forced to sit out. Van Ginkel tallied 50 tackles with 13 tackles for loss at Iowa Western and narrowed his FBS finalists down to Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Several programs, including Iowa, wanted Van Ginkel to play defensive end. But the Badgers saw him as a pass-rushing menace at outside linebacker in their 3-4 scheme. And while Tibesar didn't guarantee Van Ginkel playing time, he stressed how valuable he could be for the Badgers' defense. Van Ginkel ultimately picked Wisconsin and is one of seven early enrollees on campus for spring practice.

"He just told me if you come in here and work hard, there will be a place for you," Van Ginkel said Wednesday during Wisconsin's national signing day festivities. "That just really hit me. It's a hardworking program here. Everything has to be earned. That's my biggest motto right now is I'm not given anything. I have to earn everything, so don't take anything for granted."

Van Ginkel watched from afar last season as Watt and Biegel developed into one of the best outside linebacker duos in the Big Ten. Watt declared a year early for the NFL draft; he finished third on the team with 63 tackles and led the Badgers with 15.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks on his way to earning All-American honors. Biegel, a second-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior, tallied 44 tackles, six tackles for loss and four sacks.

"I tried to watch them as much as I could to get a feel for how they run their defense," Van Ginkel said. "Just seeing all the success they had, all the hard work and dedication they put into it, I feel like that kind of fit who I am and what I bring to the table. That had a big influence on it."

Wisconsin returns only two players who saw significant time at outside linebacker last season: redshirt senior Garret Dooley (40 tackles) and redshirt sophomore Zack Baun (15 tackles). That makes Van Ginkel's signing in Wisconsin's 19-man recruiting class even more important. The Badgers bring back their entire starting defensive line and four stellar inside linebackers -- Chris Orr, Jack Cichy, T.J. Edwards and Ryan Connelly. They are once again positioned to be one of the Big Ten's top defenses.

Tibesar indicated Van Ginkel possesses all the tools necessary to thrive at Wisconsin. Van Ginkel is a pass-rusher first and foremost but is also capable of dropping into coverage occasionally and using his length to disrupt passes. Now, it will be up to Van Ginkel to quickly fulfill his promise on a defense that needs his contributions next season.

"I have high expectations for myself," Van Ginkel said. "It's something that you need to have. You need to have confidence and come in working hard. I feel like I can come in and hopefully compete for a starting job or some playing time."

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