MADISON, Wis. -- As national signing day came to a close, Wisconsin had its highest-rated class in school history.

The Badgers inked 20 scholarship players between the early signing period and Wednesday, a group that ranks No. 25 nationally and fifth in the Big Ten Conference, surpassing last season's mark of No. 29, which at the time, was the highest-rated class in the 247sports composite era.

With the addition of offensive tackle Jack Nelson (Stoughton, Wis.), UW signed back-to-back five-star prospects for the first time in school history (Logan Brown - 2019).

Wisconsin also had five composite Top247 prospects -- Kaden Johnson (Minneapolis, Minn.), Trey Wedig (Wales, Wis.), Nick Herbig (Honolulu, Hawaii,), Jalen Berger (Ramsey, N.J.), and Nelson -- which is also a program record.

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Seven members of UW's 26-man signing class have already enrolled and joined the team in January as mid-year enrollees: Herbig, Nelson, OL Dylan Barrett (St. Charles, Ill.), ATH Chimere Dike (Waukesha, Wis.), DE Cade McDonald (Houlton, Wis.), ILB Jordan Turner (Farmington, Mich.) and ILB Preston Zachman (Elysburg, Pa.).

Wisconsin also added four walk-ons Wednesday: ILB Ross Gengler (Delavan, Wis.), OL Kerry Kodanko (Green Bay, Wis.), OLB Riley Nowakowski (Milwaukee) and K Jack Van Dyke (Neenah, Wis.). They join fellow walk-ons LS Duncan McKinley (Eau Claire, Wis.), CB Amaun Williams (Milwaukee, Wis.) and OL Sean Timmis (Shorewood, Wis.), who were previously announced in December.

According to the 247sports team recruiting rankings*, Wisconsin had the nation's No. 22 ranked recruiting class.

The Badgers should have a chance to top their No. 25 mark in 2021.

Off to a fast start, Paul Chryst and company already have eight verbal commitments, headlined by four-star prospects JP Benzschawel (Grafton, Wis.), Riley Mahlman (Lakeville, Minn.), and Hunter Wohler (Muskego, Wis.). That class stands eighth nationally in the 247sports composite rankings, including second in the Big Ten.

*247sports Rating Explanation

LOOK: Wisconsin's 2020 Recruiting Class

LOOK: National Team Recruiting Rankings