Highly touted Puerto Rican Wisconsin volleyball recruit reclassifies
Article excerpt
Wisconsin volleyball landed a major recruiting coup when a highly touted Puerto Rican prospect reclassified to join the Badgers earlier than originally planned. The move, announced June 12, significantly strengthens Wisconsin's roster for the 2026-27 season and represents a major victory in the competitive college volleyball recruiting landscape. The reclassification accelerates the recruit's path to play at the highest collegiate level, allowing the Badgers to add depth and talent sooner than anticipated. Such early commitments from elite international prospects are rare and underscore Wisconsin's continued dominance in women's volleyball recruiting.
St James' Park Newcastle United | Credit: SmartFrame Images | Every Second Media
Only ten weeks now until the Newcastle United players take to the pitch once again in a competitive setting.
The weekend of Saturday 22 August will see the 2026/27 Premier League kick off.
The Newcastle United players currently out at the World Cup finals, or else resting up ahead of what is a huge season ahead for NUFC.
As I say, a huge season ahead, with a Premier League campaign that ended in major disappointment last month.
A need now for a refresh, to get back on track.
The Newcastle United squad refresh already well underway, with the likes of Gordon, Trippier, Targett, Ruddy, Krafth and Ramsdale all moving on, whilst Ewen Jaouen the first major incoming deal.
I think that when a season ends like the 2025/26 one did, there is an in some ways natural reaction of some fans to believe that having a mass clear out and starting from scratch again is the answer.
An emotional response and unworkable one in practice. In reality Newcastle United were operating with a relatively small squad last season and with that squad thinned even further already, I don’t see serious numbers adding to the departures. Certainly not those who are seen as contenders for a regular first team place.
I would also argue that there is a very strong case anyway for keeping a significant number of the current first team players. The reality is that, at least for me, we have some top class Newcastle United players and they will be key to the success we will enjoy next season.
Injuries and the sheer number of matches put the Newcastle United players under pressure last season, especially in defence.
I think that a back four of Tino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman and Lewis Hall can give a great platform to build on.
We already know how good the two full-backs are and just a case of getting them fully fit and staying that way. Having far fewer matches can help that process and my belief is that neither of them will be leaving and we will see the best of them again in 2026/27.
Malick Thiaw was excellent for most of last season and especially impressive as it was his first ever Premier League campaign. With Fabian Schar injured he ended up having to play far too many matches and later in the season mistakes crept in due to both mental and physical fatigue. He will come back even better for his second EPL season.
Conversely, I though Sven Botman got better as the season went on and later on looked far more like the quality player we know him to be. His partnership with Thiaw has got serious potential.
Another two Newcastle United players who are definitely staying, in my opinion, are Brun Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.
I honestly wouldn’t swap this midfield duo for any other pair at another Premier League club.
Get them both on the pitch together and Newcastle United are a different team.
Get Bruno and Sandro on the pitch in front of that back four and we have an excellent base of six Newcastle United players, in defence and midfield, to get us back on track.
The 20-year-old Ewen Jaouen has already been signed and then it looks like a completely new goalkeeping pairing, as Newcastle United now reported back in for James Trafford. I think this is the time for it to finally happen, Eddie Howe to get the keeper he has been chasing in recent years.
Trafford in behind that back four and the midfield duo, my feeling is that this would be base of seven Newcastle United players that will enable us to give anybody a game.
I think we will see five or six more signings made this summer and major decisions to be made, both with current players and which ones who are the priority signings.
I believe Eddie Howe and his staff will for sure know what the plan is and now a case of assembling those players. With a proper structure now in place in terms of a CEO and Sporting Director, it feels to me like United now have the building blocks in place (unlike last summer!) to deliver those key targets, get the deals done.
I think Jacob Ramsey will be a very good player for Newcastle United next season, building on a promising first year. Nick Woltemade the same as Eddie Howe decides how best to use him.
Harvey Barnes another real asset along with Joelinton, Dan Burn, Jacob Murphy and others as back up.
Whilst I think this will be a huge season for Lewis Miley, a huge talent that it is often easy to overlook.
My gut feeling is that NUFC will get a lot more out ofAnthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa, unless of course they are traded as part of a refreshing of this squad.
With at least a couple of additions in terms of first team contenders in midfield and attacking positions, we will have a seriously good team on the pitch in August when the season kicks off. A team and squad of players that will include new signings who have had a pre-season with their new teammates.
How high these Newcastle United players can take us next season remains to be seen but I believe very strongly that NUFC will be in very good shape come the first game of the season, ready to get going from the first whistle.
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