Top WR recruit Aron Cruickshank picks Badgers

MADISON - Wisconsin’s football coaches have been working to add playmakers to an offense that has struggled to generate explosive plays in Paul Chryst’s first two seasons as head coach.

On Tuesday, UW received an oral commitment from a player who could help turn the tide.

Aron Cruickshank, a quarterback/wide receiver from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., chose the Badgers over Penn State.

He is the 16th known member of UW’s 2018 freshman class and also had offers from Ohio State, Michigan State, Virginia, Syracuse and Temple.

Cruickshank, 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, is expected to start out at wide receiver at UW. He also returns kicks for Erasmus Hall.

Last week, UW secured commitments from two West Bloomfield (Mich.) wide receivers.

Taj Mustapha, 6-2 and 175, committed Thursday. A.J. Abbott, 6-1 and 180, committed one day later.

That gave UW five commitments from Michigan for the ’18 class.

UW also recently added a graduate transfer tailback from Pittsburgh.

Rachid Ibrahim, 6-1 and 195, is set to join UW for camp and will have one season of eligibility remaining.

Ibrahim rushed a combined 60 times for 399 yards (6.7 average) in 2013 and ’14 under Chryst. He missed the ’15 season after suffering a torn Achilles’ in camp and did not carry the ball last season.

Ibrahim joins Chris James, Bradrick Shaw, Taiwan Deal and incoming freshman Jonathan Taylor at tailback for UW.

Sam Brodner suffered a torn ACL in the spring game and likely will miss the ’17 season.