'08 AR TE Jake Byrne (Wisconsin Verbal)

[OSUBucks22]

'08 AR TE Jake Byrne



Tight End
Rogers, Arkansas
Rogers H.S.

Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 240 lbs.
40-time: 4.6

Byrne caught 30 passes for close to 300 yards during his junior season. He was a varsity starter at offensive tackle his sophomore year.

Top choices are tOSU, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and Auburn.

[OSUBucks22]

BG $

5/10

Jake has contacted the coaching staff with an interest in attending camp this summer. tOSU has asked for his film. Arkansas has offered.

Rivals $ (Arkansas site)

4/26

Byrne talks about his interest in Arkansas. He feels he catches the ball well and is good in the red-zone. He could play the H-Back role in college as well as TE.

[wadc45]

BG $

6/18

By BK...will not make OSU's camp but would like to visit OSU.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

6/19

From the Arkansas site...update from the Shootout of the South 7-on-7 Tournament in Little Rock. No mention of OSU.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

6/29

Committed to Wisconsin.

[ol104]

Not that i really see Blake Ayles going to Wisconsin although Bernini said it may be a possibility; Byrne's commitment may put them a little farther in the back of the pack for Ayles FWIW

[Bernini]

OL, I don't believe Byrne will end up at tight end at Wisconsin. Our current starting tight end play at about 220-225 (Beckum). His seeming heir apparent is about the same (Kendricks). We play a lot of two tight ends, with the other being more blocking TE's, and we throw to each quite a bit. Byrne is already 240 and seems and has the desire and the frame to put on more quickly. He should grow out of the position. 240 on signing day translates eventually to ends at Wisconsin or sometimes even DT (in the cases of Chapman and Newkirk). We take on a lot of TE types, or other positions, and convert them elsewhere on the field. That's because we prefer taking developmental projects and build them up in the weight room, whereas OSU takes on a lot more college ready players (that's one reason why those recruits are rated highly). Plus, Byrne is going to play DL this year a lot for his high school team. I can't say what position Bielema was supposedly recruiting him at, but I don't think he'll be a TE. Either way, he won't have much effect on Ayles. Ayles isn't threatened by a guy like that, and the Badgers won't stop recruiting a player of his caliber, that we believe we have a shot with. He could project elsewhere as well. He's a good athlete. And if anything, taking Byrne out of Arkansas when he had an in state offer, is a good sign for Wisconsin with Ayles. Byrne, like Ayles, has parents from Wisconsin. A big reason he committed to the Badgers was his Wisconsin ties. As I said in the Ayles thread, that was one of my main reasons for some confidence with a highly rated recruit.