Early Signing Day: 2022 S Austin Brown makes it official

Committed since the Fourth of July, safety prospect Austin Brown of Johnston City, Illinois was finally able to put pen to paper on Wednesday and become a Wisconsin Badger. One of the Midwest's top safeties, Brown is a fast and athletic defender that plays all over the field. He is projected to start out in the secondary, but his ability to get downhill and 200-pound frame allow him to make plays in the box frequently as well.

Also a standout on offense, playing quarterback, running back, and wide receiver at various points of his career, Brown is a very instinctive player and fluid athlete. As a senior, he rushed for 1,313 yards and 18 touchdowns on offense while adding 87 tackles and five interceptions on defense.

Brown is a back-to-back Illinois All-State performer, and he has seen his recruiting stock gradually increase the past two seasons based on his production. He was a priority recruit for the Badgers, and Austin Brown is a player that could make a big impact when he gets on campus.

Rankings

247 Composite: 3 stars; grade: .8848; No. 436 player in the nation; No. 36 S; No. 8 IL

247 Sports: 4 stars; grade: 92; No. 215 player in the nation; No. 17 S; No. 6 IL

Rivals: 3 stars; 5.7 rating; No. 43 Safety; No. 11 IL

ESPN: 3 stars; Grade: 76; No. 64 Safety; No. 95 Regional; No. 16 IL

Verbally committed July 4, 2021

Austin Brown was the No. 11 commit in the class of 2022 and chose the Badgers over other offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, and Vanderbilt among others.

During the month of June, Brown used all five of his official visits (Boston College, Illinois, Michigan, Northwestern, UW) and also took an unofficial visit to Iowa before opting for Wisconsin.

Player bio (courtesy of UW Athletic Department)

• Three–star recruit by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN
• First–team all–state selection as a junior and senior
• Made 87 tackles and had 8 pass breakups and 5 interceptions as senior
• Also ran for 1,313 yards and scored 18 TDs
• Played QB as a junior, running for 1,126 yards and 14 TDs in a 6–game spring season
• Also had 36 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles and 2 pass breakups
• Two–time conference MVP
• Four–time first–team all–conference selection
• Honorable mention all–state selection in basketball as a junior
• Member of National Honor Society