4-star linebacker from Hawaii commits to Wisconsin football

The Badgers begin training camp Aug. 1 at UW-Platteville. Here's a look at the facilities Wisconsin will be using. One Hawaii standout shined for the University of Wisconsin football team for the past three seasons, and the Badgers hope another one follows in his footsteps. Anelu Lafaele, a projected outside linebacker, announced his verbal commitment to the Badgers on Tuesday. 247Sports currently evaluates him as a four-star recruit, while On3 and Rivals rate him as a high three-star prospect. Lafaele took an official visit to UW the weekend of June 2-4, while also making trips to Arizona State in May and Hawaii last month. He had narrowed his field of offers to UW, Arizona State, Hawaii and Washington. He made his commitment on 247Sports' YouTube channel while sitting on a boat with family and friends. He had his brother and three friends wearing hats of his final four schools, pushing the others in the water before "Jump Around" played and he flashed a 'W' with his thumbs and index fingers. Wisconsin football alums J.J. and T.J. Watt to make history in the cereal aisle After playing his first three prep seasons for the Saint Louis School in Honolulu — which also produced former Badgers outside linebacker Nick Herbig, current safety Kamo’i Latu and freshman wide receiver Trech Kekahuna — Lafaele is set to play his senior season at Farrington in Honolulu. He called Herbig one of his biggest role models. "I think I play exactly like him," Lafaele said in reference to Herbig. "Watching film almost every night trying to mirror him. To see him go to Wisconsin ... made me realize I could go up there and write my own story and be great like him." His prep highlights show good speed in coverage and a desire to deliver big hits. He’s listed at 6 foot 3 and about 220 pounds and most of his high school work appears to be at an off-ball linebacker spot. Transitioning to being on the line might be a challenge, but his speed should help him collapse the edge quickly, and Badgers defensive coordinator Mike Tressel likes to send his front-line players on stunts that could highlight Lafaele’s quickness. Lafaele becomes the 18th commit of UW’s 2024 class. He joins quarterback Mabrey Mettauer; running backs Darrion Dupree and Gideon Ituka; tight end Grant Stec; offensive linemen Colin Cubberly, Ryan Cory, Kevin Heywood, Derek Jensen and Emerson Mandell; outside linebacker Thomas Heiberger; inside linebacker Landon Gauthier; wide receiver Kyan Berry-Johnson; safeties Raphael Dunn and Kahmir Prescott; defensive lineman Hank Weber and cornerbacks Jay Harper and Omillio Agard.