Wisconsin Secures 2026 Linebacker Commitment Over Big Ten Rivals

The Wisconsin Badgers have secured a commitment from three-star linebacker Aden Reeder, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound recruit from Cincinnati, Ohio, who chose Wisconsin over rivals Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan State. Reeder is the seventh commitment in Wisconsin's 2026 recruiting class and the second-highest-ranked recruit, bringing a key piece to the linebacker room as the Badgers continue to build out their defensive corps. He had planned official visits to Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, but his verbal commitment to Wisconsin makes an official visit to Minnesota less likely. Meanwhile, Wisconsin lost a potential blue-chip linebacker recruit, four-star T.J. White, who canceled his official visit to Wisconsin and remains open to other programs including Florida State, Tennessee, Mississippi State, and North Carolina. Wisconsin’s 2026 recruiting class currently ranks near the bottom of the Big Ten in average player rating, underscoring the need for more high-profile commitments during the upcoming official visit calendar. The program, led by Luke Fickell and defensive coordinator Mike Tressel, aims to replicate its past recruiting successes by securing impactful players like Reeder and pursuing other key targets.