The Wisconsin Badgers have lost another 2026 recruit to a commitment flip after a top defensive pledge announced his new plans.
Zachary Taylor, a high three-star safety from Texas, committed to the Wisconsin football team weeks ago after a successful official visit. At the time, Wisconsin successfully landed the Texas native over schools such as Texas Tech, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia.
However, the recruit was heavily pursued by TCU around the time of his commitment and since kept a close relationship with the staff. The Horned Frogs persistence paid off in the end, as the recruit announced he would flip his commitment in favor of his home state.
Wisconsin has now lost two players within the 2026 recruiting cycle due to commitment flips, which is something that will likely become more and more frequent given the changing climate of college football. The Wisconsin Badgers previously lost edge commitment Carmelow Reed, a three-star recruit, to the Ole Miss Rebels after an official visit with the program.
Wisconsin Badgers Begin Search For 2026 Class Safety Following Loss of Zachary Taylor
Without Taylor in the picture, the Wisconsin Badgers will have to look for a new safety within the class immediately. The Badgers previously missed out of safeties Tony Forney, Jowell Combay, Nick Reddish, and Chase Geter after landing Taylor. Wisconsin is now in an awkward spot as many top evaluated safeties have already committed to programs and the rest of the class remains relatively unknown.
The first step for the Wisconsin Badgers staff will likely be reevaluating many former targets who have since announced pledges. Chase Geter is a potential name to watch as the recruit committed to Syracuse following an official visit to Madison. Geter is a talented defensive back with burning speed that may not match Taylor, but could be a close second given who is left.
Another potential early option for the Badgers after the flip of Taylor would be Aldarius Johnson Jr. The 6-foot-2-inch safety is much closer to the prototypical size for the position that Wisconsin has recruited and the frame of the recruit could be what attracts the staff the most.
Johnson Jr is listed as a cornerback but has experience moving around in the secondary and could be a valuable safety at the collegiate level with more size added to his frame. Johnson Jr holds a Wisconsin offer but has not been very close with any programs this far into the recruiting process. The Badgers could attempt to ignite a relationship with the recruit late given the other options available.
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