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Wisconsin Football: 4-Star OLB Yanni Karlaftis Sets Commitment Date

By Paul Bretl

MADISON, WI - NOVEMBER 17: The Wisconsin Badgers macot Bucky Badger runs onto the field before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium on November 17, 2012 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - NOVEMBER 17: The Wisconsin Badgers macot Bucky Badger runs onto the field before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium on November 17, 2012 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) /
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4-star OLB Yanni Karlaftis, who has Wisconsin Football in his final-four, announced his commitment date for August 9th.

Wisconsin Football’s 2021 recruiting class is already on pace to be the best in program history since the Online Rankings Era began. Currently, with 15 hard commits, the Badgers rank third in the Big Ten and 14th nationally. This also includes five 4-star recruits, which ties a program record set by the 2020 class.

And with the recent news that 4-star outside linebacker Yanni Karlaftis from West Lafayette, Indiana set his commitment date for August 9th, the Wisconsin 2021 recruiting class could be moving up in the rankings.

The Badgers are in Karlaftis’ final four, along with Purdue, California, and Oregon. According to 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions, Purdue is the favorite, but Wisconsin is next in line. However, it’s worth pointing out that Yanni’s brother George was a 5-star defensive end prospect in the 2019 class and chose hometown Purdue.

During his 2019 junior season, Karlaftis posted 79 tackles, eight of which were for a loss, along with two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and three quarterback hurries according to Max Preps. At 6’3″ – 203 pounds, the 4-star Karlaftis is the 16th ranked outside linebacker in 247Sports composite rankings and the 236th ranked prospect nationally.

For a closer look at Karlaftis’ game, here is what 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Allen Trieu had to say:

"“Taller framed linebacker with long arms. Lean right now, but should easily add weight. Very competitive kid. Plays hard and has played up with older competition since an early age. Athletic, comfortable in space and changes directions fluidly.Aggressive, attacks downhill and is an explosive tackler. Still can improve on timed speed, but has good play speed. Has to still get stronger and fill out his frame as well. Given his frame and body type, developing into an EDGE player is not out of the question, but he can project as a SAM in a 4-3 or an outside pass rusher in a 3-4 as well.His size and tools allow him to project to multiple roles and schemes. If he can improve on testing numbers, he would have a chance to hear his named called fairly early in the NFL draft when that time comes.”"

Next. 6 Badgers Make TDN's top-250 Prospects List. dark

Over the last decade, the Wisconsin Football program has a strong track record of putting linebackers in the NFL. Most notably and recently, T.J. Watt and Zack Baun, but there have been many others. With the commitment of Yanni Karlaftis, he will not only improve an already impressive 2021 recruiting class, but he will join an already stout Badgers’ linebacker unit.

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