Budmayr a 'huge catch' for Wisconsin

Marian Central quarterback Jon Budmayr passed for nearly 2,000 yards in his junior season.
(John Booz/For the Sun-Times)

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Marian Central junior quarterback Jon Budmayr gave an oral commitment to Wisconsin on Tuesday.

Budmayr (6-1, 200 pounds) chose the Badgers over Notre Dame, which recently offered him a scholarship. Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern, Arizona, Iowa, Stanford and Boston College were also interested in Budmayr.

"He is a huge catch for Wisconsin," recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. "He is the best pickup for Wisconsin out of Chicago in 10 years. He's got great skills and he's their type of player.

"It's a big statement that Wisconsin has made in Chicago. They possibly landed a four-year starter."

Budmayr is considered one of the best quarterbacks in Illinois' class of 2009. He is often compared to Glenbard North's Evan Watkins, who committed to Northwestern, and Maine South's Charlie Goro, who has a scholarship offer from Eastern Illinois.

"It's a very good year for QBs in Chicago," Lemming said, "and, [Budmayr] may turn out to be the best of them all."

Lemming described Budmayr as the type of the player who can change the outcome of a game.

With Budmayr sidelined with a hamstring injury, Marian Central was knocked off by Montini 33-0 in a regular-season matchup in October.

Four weeks later and with Budmayr under center, Marian defeated Montini 29-15 in the Class 5A state playoffs. Budmayr completed 20 of 27 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

"The difference was one player," Lemming said. "He seems to just have it. He's not the biggest quarterback, but he's got good feet and he always finds the passing seams."

Budmayr passed for nearly 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns his junior year despite missing five games with a hamstring injury. He also led Marian to the Class 5A state championship game in 2006 (a 35-14 loss to Springfield Sacred Heart) and to the semifinals in 2007 (a 10-9 loss to Morris).