Tight end Rob Booker II was part of a large group of top high school football prospects taking an official visit to Wisconsin three weeks ago. Booker, an in-state product from nearby Waunakee, had committed to the Badgers four months earlier and was one of six commits in the 2024 class and 16 recruits total on campus for the first weekend in June.

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It was supposed to serve as a celebratory get-together for future teammates and a pitch to uncommitted players to join them. For Booker, however, he already was having doubts about his decision. And no one from Wisconsin’s staff was aware of his thought process. By that time, he had heard from multiple schools and was talking the most to coaches from UCLA.

“I wouldn’t say I was fully in,” Booker said of his commitment to Wisconsin. “But, for the most part, I didn’t think this was going to play out how it did.”

Booker ultimately decommitted from Wisconsin on Wednesday and publicly announced his commitment to UCLA on Thursday, a stunning turn of events that caught the Badgers off guard.

Westwood I’m home!!!🐻🐻@UCLAChipKelly @JeffFaris @EthanYoungFB @PeteMayberry #4sUp #GoBruins

— Rob Booker II (@robertbookerr) June 22, 2023

Booker, a three-star prospect and the No. 26 tight end in the 247Sports Composite, spoke to The Athletic on Wednesday night in advance of his public announcement to UCLA and provided the details that led to his decision. Here is the interview, which has been condensed for length and clarity.

Can you share what happened? How did things come to where they are now?

I really wanted to emphasize this as much as I could. It was nothing Wisconsin did. I’ve also seen some things that we had parted ways. That wasn’t the case. I’ve known I was going to commit to UCLA for about a week. So I was going to tell the staff. They were the only school I actually ended up unofficially visiting. Most people think we parted ways or whatever, but that wasn’t the case.

Schools have reached out to me since I’ve been committed. I never really took any serious. I really wanted to be locked in here at Wisconsin. But UCLA really made me a priority. They were begging me to get out there. I talked to them more than any other school. So I decided to go out there, see everything. And I kind of knew I was going to commit before I went out there. I told Wisconsin that I was going to be committing there.

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It was all good words between me and them. They were a little shocked, obviously, but they wished nothing but the best. And they even said if I ever need anything, I can still text them. But, obviously, it’s a business. Once you give up your spot, there’s no promise you’re going to get it back.

When did you go out to UCLA for an unofficial visit?

Tuesday. I had a redeye flight and came back Tuesday night.

You said UCLA made you a priority. Did you feel like Wisconsin didn’t make you a priority?

I think Wisconsin did a great job with that. It’s also more of an opportunity thing. UCLA hasn’t offered really any kids in the country (at tight end). They told me I’d be their guy. Obviously, we had two tight ends committed. Or we did for Wisconsin with me and Grant (Stec). I freakin’ love Grant to death. That’s my guy. But I would like to flourish at the next level. I honestly think it’s best for both of us, obviously especially for me.

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It sounds like you wanted to go somewhere where you could be the only tight end. Is that correct?

A little bit. Not as much. Obviously, I committed after Grant did, so I knew what I was getting into in the first place. But after reflection and at my official visit, (tight ends) coach (Nate) Letton kind of went over how many tight ends would be on the roster. He kind of told me without actually telling me it would be a while before I played, me and Grant, because of how much depth we have at that position, which I’m not shying away from competition. I just think as an opportunity standpoint, I also love Chip Kelly’s offense. Both offenses are fantastic. But I just think for an opportunity, it’s what’s best for me and best for my family.

When did you start to consider entertaining other schools?

I’d say probably like two weeks after I committed. Not that I was exploring, but that’s when schools really started to follow me. They were like, “Hey, what’s up Rob?” Texas A&M followed me. (Tight ends) coach (James) Coley from Texas A&M followed me on Twitter the day after I committed and was like, “Hey, man. I wish you weren’t committed. I love your tape.”

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Schools would just text me stuff like that, and I’m like, “Oh, well, it’s kind of late now. I committed yesterday. But I appreciate that.” So some would pop in, and yeah, I’d follow some staffs obviously and tight end coaches on Twitter. They’ll reach out. So it’s like I wasn’t really entertaining, I would say. Most schools knew I was pretty locked in. It’s more just the schools that really were like, “OK, this kid’s worth going after even though he’s committed.” That’s when I was like, “All right, if this school wants me, obviously I’m going to listen.”

Who else reached out to you?

Texas A&M, Tennessee, Alabama, Illinois, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Missouri. There were probably like two others. Most of them ended up offering as well. But just out of respect, I wasn’t going to post anything on social media because then people would know obviously I’m exploring other options and listening. So I didn’t want to get that narrative out there.

Which of those schools actually offered you?

Auburn, Texas A&M, Illinois and obviously UCLA.

Who from UCLA reached out to you, and how did those conversations pick up so quickly?

(Tight ends) Coach (Jeff) Faris reached out. But I actually know one of the commits, Mark Schroller. UW was actually recruiting him. We basically talked since spring practice because he was at the same spring practice I went to back in April. He kind of asked me. He was like, “Hey, I know you’re a Midwest kid. Would you be interested at all in talking to our tight end coach?” I was like,” Yeah.” Because UCLA doesn’t recruit east of Colorado.

So they got my film to them or whatever. He reached out, and he’s probably been calling me like twice a week for the last month and a half, I’d say. So the relationship has been strong there with Coach Faris. And then coach (Tim) Drevno, the O-line coach there, came out to see me in person back in May when coaches were out traveling.

Did Wisconsin know that coach Drevno came to see you in person?

They asked me if schools were still reaching out, and I did tell them, yeah. When coaches were traveling, they asked if any schools came in to see me and talked to me. Schools did. Or, a few. More for my teammates, actually. So schools were coming in, and they knew that schools were talking to me as well. But even I didn’t really think it would end up getting this serious.

So the Badgers didn’t know that coach Drevno came in specifically to talk to you?

No.

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Were they aware you went out to UCLA, or did they not find out until after the fact?

They didn’t find out until after the fact. But I told them after I decommitted over the phone.

Who did you call from Wisconsin?

Coach Letton. And then our recruiting guy, Max (Stienecker).

What was their reaction or message to you?

They were pretty disappointed, if I’m going to be honest. And they were shocked as well. That’s really what they kept saying. Coach Letton was more like, “I respect your decision. I’m glad you were honest.” Max, as a recruiter, it’s his job to kind of recruit me, so he was telling me he was worried about this decision and that they don’t want this to happen. It was a lot of phone calls.

Did you talk to Luke Fickell at all?

Yeah. He called my dad. We got on the phone with both of us.

How did the conversation with coach Fickell go?

It was cool. He also came off pretty disappointed, which is understandable. He also called my head coach, coach (Pat) Rice, and was kind of asking him about it. Because, originally, I didn’t really want to tell anyone where I was going because I knew it would get out. Most people already know behind the scenes.

Did you have any reservations about going all the way to UCLA and not telling anyone from Wisconsin?

I knew I was going to commit to UCLA, and I knew I was going to call Wisconsin and decommit. What wasn’t on my agenda was telling them where I was going. But they kept asking me, like, “There’s got to be a school. You wouldn’t just re-open your recruitment.” Because I wouldn’t. They were telling me that it’s super risky to just re-open your recruitment because all these schools that offered you in the past, that spot might still not be there. And I knew that. But I already had a spot at UCLA, and that’s where I wanted to go.

Why do you think UCLA is a better fit for you?

I’ve seen both presentations of both offenses at Wisconsin and UCLA. I’d say the big thing that really hooked me is that in the Air Raid offense, coach (Phil) Longo does produce yardage for tight ends. That’s like the first thing Max said to me over the phone was that his tight ends led the country in receiving yards last season, or something like that. But coach Kelly, he has an NFL offense. He’s coached Zach Ertz. He’s put three tight ends into the NFL in the last five years. And I think my play style complements it well.

Thank you Badger Nation❤️ @AllenTrieu

— Rob Booker II (@robertbookerr) June 21, 2023

You’re in Waunakee, like 20 minutes from Camp Randall Stadium. What do you think the reaction is going to be from people you know and from Badgers fans?

I already know some people are pretty upset. I would be, too. This was nothing toward Wisconsin. I absolutely love Wisconsin fans to death for welcoming me and making me feel welcome. It really was always a dream of mine. But you have to do what’s best for you.

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My mom is a die-hard Badgers fan. When I told her that I wanted to make this decision, honestly, she wasn’t happy. She’s excited for me, but she grew up a Badger fan, so you can only imagine how it is for her. I definitely noticed it. She’s just worried that I might not like it out there and that I’ll get homesick. So I’m aware of how feelings will be presented. But at the end of the day, it’s my decision, and not a lot of people are in the shoes that I am in right now.

Just to clarify, you said it wasn’t a parting of the ways because when you called to tell Wisconsin, you had already told UCLA you committed?

I committed in person at UCLA. And then I called Wisconsin, coach Letton, and told him that I was going to decommit. And that’s when they were like, “Oh, why?” Originally, I didn’t tell them what school, but I said I’m going to go somewhere else. Just for me, it’s a better opportunity.

What’s your perspective on how this staff has recruited the state of Wisconsin?

I think this staff has done an incredible job recruiting. I’d be lying if I said they didn’t, at least for me. I think these guys can recruit in-state. Obviously, I don’t know behind the scenes what goes down between those relationships. But they can recruit in-state. This was not a recruiting error. They did a fantastic job. This was simply because I want what’s best for me.

How much, if at all, did NIL play a factor in your decision?

Actually not at all. For me, no male in my family has graduated college. So the fact that I’m getting my college paid for, that is an NIL for me. I could care less how much money I’m getting paid. If I’m going to school for free, sign me up. I really don’t care how much money comes on top of that, and neither does my family.

Did you reach out to any of Wisconsin’s commits in your class?

Definitely. On the official visit, we had like six of our commits there. The official visit was super fun. We really are like a family. I’m still going to talk to those guys. We have a group chat, and I told them before I announced. I was like, “Hey, guys, this is where I’m going. This is what I’m going to do. I love you boys.” And they all texted back, too, because they care about me and I care about them. I want them to be successful. They want me to be successful. It really is like a brotherhood.

I texted (quarterback) Mabrey (Mettauer), too, because he sent me a long message. I told him, “Represent the state well, bro. I know you will.” It’s a family. We do love each other, and it sucks I had to say goodbye to those guys after building up the chemistry that we had because we really did have good chemistry. But it is what it is at the end of the day, and they understand that.

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When did UCLA ask you to come out and visit?

Probably a week ago. They waited to offer until I got there. They basically told me they would if you come out here. They had already seen me in person, the O-line coach. But they wanted to see me and talk to me for the whole day.

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Finally, do you have any regrets about how this whole thing went down?

Obviously, I feel like crap. I’m obviously going to sound hypocritical for saying this. But when I would see guys decommit from a school, I would be like, “Why? What was even the point of committing?” And now obviously I’m the guy doing that. So to be doing that, obviously I feel like crap, especially for the Wisconsin fans. Because they really did show me a lot of love, and I can’t explain in words how appreciative I am for that.

My mom, she’s still kind of heartbroken about the decision, and most of my family is Badger fans. So it wasn’t easy telling them. But they all understand, and I really hope the fans can also understand my family is still Badger fans. I’m a Badger at heart. But in terms of opportunity, I just couldn’t pass this up.

(Top photo: Courtesy of Rob Booker II)