The media, fans and even Wisconsin's players were stunned when news broke on Wednesday that head coach Gary Andersen was leaving Madison to take the job at Oregon State.
Just image how Isaac James felt.
The three-star Class of 2015 athlete from Carmel (Ind.) has the Badgers in his top three, along with Northwestern and Indiana. He told WildcatReport that he was as surprised as everyone else by Andersen's sudden departure.
"Yeah, I didn't expect that at all," he said by text message.
James says that he's still considering Wisconsin, but he also admits that he will think twice about picking the Badgers without a coach in place.
"(It) makes me hesitant to try and give a commitment because I don't the culture change that I'd be committing to if I were to make that decision," he stated.
James took an official visit to Wisconsin in October. He visited Northwestern officially last weekend and will do the same at Indiana this weekend. His plan was make a verbal commitment shortly thereafter, but the uncertainty at Wisconsin could cause him to take more of a wait-and-see approach.
Wisconsin cornerbacks coach Ben Strickland flew to Carmel to visit James today. His message: "(He) said they'd honor my scholarship and continue recruiting me but as of now they don't have a head coach," James said.
Wisconsin's loss could turn out to be Northwestern's gain. Wisconsin's case is definitely weakened with an unknown head coach coming in. No one is sure at this point if any of Andersen's assistants will be retained, either.
Indiana's coaching situation could be tenuous next year, too. Head coach Kevin Wilson figures to be on thin ice next season after the Hoosiers' posted a 4-8 (1-7) mark in 2014. Wilson signed a seven-year deal in 2010, but the contract reportedly features a buyout of just $1.5 million, far from a prohibitive amount if the Hoosiers decide to go in a different direction.
Just image how Isaac James felt.
The three-star Class of 2015 athlete from Carmel (Ind.) has the Badgers in his top three, along with Northwestern and Indiana. He told WildcatReport that he was as surprised as everyone else by Andersen's sudden departure.
"Yeah, I didn't expect that at all," he said by text message.
James says that he's still considering Wisconsin, but he also admits that he will think twice about picking the Badgers without a coach in place.
"(It) makes me hesitant to try and give a commitment because I don't the culture change that I'd be committing to if I were to make that decision," he stated.
James took an official visit to Wisconsin in October. He visited Northwestern officially last weekend and will do the same at Indiana this weekend. His plan was make a verbal commitment shortly thereafter, but the uncertainty at Wisconsin could cause him to take more of a wait-and-see approach.
Wisconsin cornerbacks coach Ben Strickland flew to Carmel to visit James today. His message: "(He) said they'd honor my scholarship and continue recruiting me but as of now they don't have a head coach," James said.
Wisconsin's loss could turn out to be Northwestern's gain. Wisconsin's case is definitely weakened with an unknown head coach coming in. No one is sure at this point if any of Andersen's assistants will be retained, either.
Indiana's coaching situation could be tenuous next year, too. Head coach Kevin Wilson figures to be on thin ice next season after the Hoosiers' posted a 4-8 (1-7) mark in 2014. Wilson signed a seven-year deal in 2010, but the contract reportedly features a buyout of just $1.5 million, far from a prohibitive amount if the Hoosiers decide to go in a different direction.
