Wisconsin’s Elite 2026 Recruit Faces Surprising Prediction That Could Shake Up Commitment Day
Here we are, on the cusp of what could be a pivotal moment for Wisconsin’s recruiting class of 2026. King Liggins, a burly 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive lineman from Chicago’s Brother Rice, is about to drop his college decision — and it’s got fans buzzing from Madison to Champaign. With offers galore from around the Midwest and beyond, Liggins stands as one of the top interior prospects nationally, ranked No. 91 among defensive linemen. But here’s the kicker: while Wisconsin holds a spot as a finalist, the scales seem heavily tilted toward Illinois, according to most recruiting forecasts. Watching this unfold feels a bit like waiting for a lightning bolt — you know something big is coming, you just don’t know exactly where it’ll strike. The commitment is slated for Wednesday afternoon during 247Sports’ Ultimate College Football Show, and trust me, it’s one you won’t want to miss.
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- Three-star defensive lineman King Liggins will announce his college decision between Wisconsin and Illinois.
- Liggins, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound prospect from Chicago, is ranked the No. 91 defensive lineman nationally in the 2026 class.
- While Wisconsin is a finalist, recruiting predictions heavily favor Illinois.
Here’s Trieu’s recruiting profile on the three-star recruit:Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinionA product of Chicago Brother Rice in Chicago, Illinois, Liggins is 247Sports’ No. 91 defensive lineman and No. 19 prospect from Illinois in the class of 2026. He’s received offers from nearly 30 programs scattered throughout the nation, including from Iowa, Indiana, Purdue, Rutgers and Kansas.While Wisconsin is certainly a finalist, On3’s recruiting prediction machine considers Illinois a favorite to secure Liggins at 88.2%. Wisconsin, meanwhile, boasts just a 3.0% likelihood to earn a commitment. 247Sports’ Illinois expert Jeremy Werner also registered a crystal ball prediction favoring the Illini.
As of May 20, Wisconsin’s class of 2026 currently features seven commits and ranks No. 43 in the country. A commitment from Liggins would certainly boost that ranking, but only marginally. 247Sports’ Ultimate College Football Show begins at 3 p.m. CT. Liggins’ commitment is expected between 3:30 and 3:45 p.m. CT.He shows motor and ability to run plays down. He is not just a guy who eats up space, but can also penetrate and make plays. But if needed, he can tie up blockers as well. He has grown steadily from 240 pounds when we first saw him to 265 to 280. We project him getting over 300 pounds and being a true defensive tackle.”
Wisconsin football class of 2026 defensive line target King Liggins will announce his collegiate commitment later today, Wednesday, May 21.
Liggins, who received his offer from Luke Fickell’s program on June 16, 2024, will decide between the Badgers and Illinois Fighting Illini during 247Sports’ Ultimate College Football Show on Wednesday, according to Allen Trieu.
“Liggins is a coveted prospect because at 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, he can play inside and is a little more ready-made than other interior prospects. That body type and the athleticism that goes along with it are typically more rare in the Midwest. So when they come along, these guys tend to be very heavily recruited and that is the case with Liggins.
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