Wisconsin Emerges as Dark Horse in Fierce 2026 WR Recruiting Battle Against Big Ten and SEC Giants

When it comes to landing high school stars, Wisconsin’s gridiron hustle just got a little more interesting. Zachary Washington, a three-star wide receiver from Wheaton, Illinois, tossed the Badgers’ name into his top seven schools, signaling that the Midwest powerhouse might just snag a gem in the 2026 recruiting class. At No. 639 nationally, Washington isn’t just another name on a list—he’s a 6-foot-2 prospect with the kind of size and skill set that could shake things up in Madison. What catches my eye? The Badgers aren’t just warming a bench here; they’re actually the favorites, according to On3, with a real shot to seal the deal before his official visit on May 30 even wraps up. It’s a classic recruitment dance, with Michigan State, West Virginia, and Indiana circling close. And with Wisconsin’s class already ranked 43rd nationally, adding Washington could be the spark that fires up their offense next season. You can almost hear the Badger faithful holding their breath—hoping this visit turns into a commitment. LEARN MORE

AI-assisted summary
• Three-star wide receiver Zachary Washington included Wisconsin in his top seven schools.
• Washington is ranked No. 639 nationally in the 2026 class.
• Wisconsin is the predicted favorite to land Washington, according to On3.
• Washington has an official visit to Wisconsin scheduled for May 30.

247Sports currently lists the Wheaton, Illinois, native as a three-star recruit. He is specifically ranked as the No. 639 player in the class of 2026, No. 100 wide receiver and No. 14 recruit from his home state. The service reports that the wide receiver has four notable official visits scheduled: Wisconsin on May 30, Michigan State on June 6, West Virginia on June 13 and Indiana on June 20. It has yet to release a prediction for his commitment decision.Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinionWisconsin football made the top seven for class of 2026 wide receiver Zachary Washington on Thursday.

On3, meanwhile, lists the Badgers as the current favorites at 51.9%, followed by Michigan State at 23.1%. Wisconsin will get the first in-person pitch during its loaded May 30 official visit weekend. Badger fans will hope that the 6-foot-2 wideout commits before visiting the rest of his finalists.

The Badgers were included with West Virginia, Kansas State, Michigan State, Missouri, Ole Miss and Indiana.

Wisconsin’s class of 2026 sits No. 43 nationally with six players committed. Three-star Tayshon Bardo is the group’s only wide receiver.