University of Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren was talking on the eve of signing day to a recruit who was surprised at the number of defensive backs in the class.

The Badgers signed five defensive backs Wednesday among their 24 recruits, including at least three who will get a chance to play cornerback. Another recruit, wide receiver T.J. Williams from Kenosha Bradford, also could end up at cornerback.

Then again, given UW's situation at the position, the fresh bodies certainly are welcome.

The Badgers' starting cornerbacks in the Outback Bowl, Jack Ikegwuonu and Ben Strickland, will not return. Ikegwuonu declared for the NFL draft as a junior and Strickland was a senior.

And UW's projected starters for next season, sophomore Aaron Henry and senior Allen Langford, are coming off ACL surgeries and won't be available until fall camp at the earliest.

"That's what I was talking to one of our recruits (Tuesday) night on the phone about," Doeren said. "He said, 'There (are) a lot of DBs coming in.'

"I said, 'People keep saying we're stockpiling. I don't look at it that way. We have two corners who are gone ... and two corners that blew their knees out. To me, we should sign four corners. We only have three committed. I think I've under-signed at that position.' He started laughing. You understand where I'm coming from."

Many college coaches, including UW defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks, believe cornerback is the toughest position to recruit.

"In my history, I think you have to bring in four to five corners, to find one," Cooks said. "If you're lucky, you find two. When I say find one, I mean one great one, one Jack Ikegwuonu. Now, those other guys that are left can absolutely be ... solid players and contribute. But cornerback is a tough position to find."

Sometimes, coaches are looking for the most athletic players they can find, regardless of position, and projecting him to be a cornerback.

Other times, coaches are trying to evaluate cornerbacks who play only basic coverages or who don't get thrown at much.

"Every sport you play, you run forward in," Doeren said. "(Cornerback) is the one where you go backward. It's a very difficult position athletically and it's in the position in football where (if) you make mistakes, it's touchdowns. So, it takes a special kid mentally and physically to play there.

"Obviously, speed and agility are a huge part of that position. For us, in state, there aren't a lot of guys that can do it. So, you've got to travel to get those guys."

No. 1 concern

The Badgers have had their share of quality cornerbacks, notably Jamar Fletcher, who won the Thorpe Award in 2000 as the nation's top defensive back. But a lack of depth at the position has frequently been an issue.

Losing an elite player such as Ikegwuonu, a two-time, first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection, early to the draft and having their next two best players at the position suffer serious knee injuries might have devastated the Badgers in past years. It still remains the No. 1 concern going into next season.

Even though he will turn to mostly young and inexperienced players in the spring, at least Cooks has legitimate options, an indication the overall recruiting at the position has been upgraded.

Junior Josh Nettles and sophomore Niles Brinkley go into spring as the top tandem, but two talented redshirt freshmen, Mario Goins and Otis Merrill, are waiting to show what they can do.

"It's a good and bad situation," Cooks said. "I'm excited to see Mario Goins, Otis Merrill, Niles Brinkley and Josh Nettles, those are the guys that will get a lot of reps — and those are the guys that need it.

"You hope, throughout that process, they get better and Aaron and Allen are able to rehab and come back and join us when they're able."

From Texas, Florida

It's no coincidence Cooks, who recruits in Texas, signed three defensive backs from the state: cornerbacks Marcus Cromartie (Mansfield) and Devin Smith (Coppell) and safety Shelton Johnson (Carollton)

The other incoming defensive backs are from Florida: cornerback Antonio Fenelus (Boca Raton) and safety Kevin Claxton (Fort Lauderdale).

"It just so happened, especially when the injuries started happening with our secondary, it really became a priority for us to make sure we had a pretty good defensive back class," Cooks said.

The 6-foot-1 Cromartie, who set a school record in the 200 meters in 21.77 seconds, and the 6-2 Claxton are examples of what the Badgers are looking for physically at their positions. The 6-0 Williams also ran the fastest UW camp 40-yard dash in Bret Bielema's two years as coach.

"One of our emphases — and I think it has to be now — is to upgrade with height and speed, both at the corner and safety spots," Cooks said. "The more of those guys you'll have, the better off you'll be."