MADISON – Wednesday, Dec. 3, might as well be Christmas for the Wisconsin football program.
The day marks the start of the early signing period, the first opportunity the Badgers can finalize the verbal commitments they’ve received for the 2026 recruiting class. Thirteen players either made their commitments official by signing the necessary paperwork Wednesday.
The players in the class come from 10 states, with Tennessee leading the way with three players. Wisconsin, California and Georgia have two each, and the rest hail from Massachusetts, Indiana, Florida, Ohio, Texas and Washington.
The group includes three defensive linemen, two inside linebackers, two cornerbacks, two receivers and one quarterback, running back offensive lineman, safety and tight end.
If you believe the experts’ rankings, the class falls short of what Luke Fickell and his staff signed for 2024 and last season.
The 2024 class was ranked 23rd by 247sports and 22nd by Rivals. Last season’s 2025 class was ranked 27th by 247sports and 27th by Rivals.
Here is what those websites think of the group UW has added this year. Note that the rankings are fluid. This is where things stood at 7 a.m. Dec. 5.
Rivals ranks Wisconsin 59st nationally, 15th in the Big Ten
Before losing four-star running back Amari Latimer to West Virginia, the Badgers were ranked 47th nationall and 13th in the Big Ten. Following his departure UW is ranked ahead of UCLA, Nebraksa and Penn State. USC, Oregon and Ohio State hold the top three spots.
The addition of safety Kah’ni Watts on Thursday helped boost the Badgers two spots to their current position.
Prior to this year, Rivals’ lowest ranking for a Badgers recruiting class in the last 10 years was No. 46 in 2023. That was Fickell’s first class at Wisconsin and a good portion of it came together in less than three weeks after he was hired.
The jewels of the 2026 class, according to Rivals’ position rankings, bode well for the offense in the future.
Quarterback Ryan Hopkins is listed as the 36th-best at his position. Offensive lineman Brady Bekkenhuis, a former Boston College recruit, is the 40th-ranked interior lineman. Zion Legree, who signed as a receiver, is considered the 31st-best athlete.
247sports ranks Wisconsin’s class 69th overall, 15th in the B1G
247 ranks UW’s class ahead of only UCLA, Nebraska and Penn State, which lost a lot of recruits due to the uncertainty of its head coaching situation. The No. 69 ranking is the site’s lowest for Wisconsin in the past 10 years. The lowest ranking before this year during that stretch was 59th in 2023.
Despite the low rank, UW signed a handful of players who are highly regarded by the site.
Running back Qwantavius Wiggins, sits at No. 27. Hopkins sits at No. 4 among quarterbacks. Jack Sievers is No. 41 at tight end.
Taylor Schaefer, who is from Brussels, Wis., and played at Southern Door High School, is listed as the No. 2 inside linebacker among junior college recruits.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Where Wisconsin football’s recruiting class ranks nationally on signing day
Reporting by Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
