Merrill linebacker a future Badger
MERRILL - It's a storyline that has played out before — a Merrill High School linebacker gains statewide attention and goes on to the University of Wisconsin football program.
It happened to Sam Arneson, a 2010 Merrill graduate and former Badgers tight end. Now its the scenario for Bluejays senior running back/linebacker Jake Collinsworth, who pledged to Wisconsin in July after he received a preferred walk-on offer.
"It really means a lot," Collinsworth said earlier this month. "My goal has always been to play college football — secretly, I guess, it's always been for the Badgers."
Collinsworth took a few visits to the Madison campus last season, performed well during a Badgers football camp in June, but wondered what the Wisconsin program really thought of him as a player.
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He got the answer late last month.
"I got out of bed one day and (Merrill) Coach (Nick) Sturm texted me and said 'Hey, the Badgers are going to offer a preferred walk-on today. Congratulations.' It was definitely exciting," said Collinsworth, who had received offers from both Bemidji State and Minnesota-Duluth. "(The decision) feels good. It allows me to put 100 percent of my focus on my last season representing Merrill."
Collinsworth is one of four in-state players who have accepted preferred walk-on offers from Wisconsin. He joins Kimberly quarterback Danny Vanden Boom, Darlington running back Hunter Johnson and Menomonee Falls lineman Matt Henningsen
Collinsworth was a unanimous all-Great Northern Conference selection at linebacker last year and a second-team pick at running back. He is part of a notable duo for the Bluejays, who open the season Friday at Superior and are a favorite in the conference this fall.
Collinsworth's teammate Jonathan Gruetzmacher, a 6-foot-8, 287 pound senior lineman, made a verbal commitment to South Dakota State University in June. Gruetzmacher said the Jackrabbits have shown interest from the start of his recruiting process and he just felt comfortable with the program.
"The coaching staff was really nice to me and I have kept up a really good relationship with them (during the recruiting process)," Gruetzmacher said. "I've always had a good relationship with them and I've always been excited to go out and visit there. (Brookings, S.D.) is a lot like the towns around here and it just felt like home to me."
DCE's Mueller has UW interest as well
D.C. Everest offensive lineman Zach Mueller has received attention from the Badgers as well a number of other college programs. Mueller, a 6-foot-4 and 286 pound junior, attended a camp in Madison this summer, has received interest from Purdue, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois State, North Dakota State, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona State and Air Force Academy.
Mueller was a honorable mention all-Valley Football Association-North Division selection as a sophomore last year.
Former 'Jacks QB among changes to East coaching staff
Bo Johnson, a quarterback for Wausau East at the start of the decade, has joined the Lumberjacks as a running backs coach this year. Johnson is one of the additions to Tom Tourtillott's coaching staff this year. That includes Jason Bruce (offensive line) and Jon Paul (offensive coordinator). Paul served the same role on Tourtillott's coaching staff in Merrill.
"He's been coaching for 35 years," Tourtillott said. "We speak the same language (offensively) and we worked together for a long time."
Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter@timmyjo11