One of the top linebackers in the 2026 recruiting class has been on the Wisconsin football radar since the opening of the recruiting period.
Tristan Phillips, a four-star linebacker in the 2026 recruiting class, currently holds 14 scholarship offers including offers from UCLA, Notre Dame, and Arizona. The Wisconsin football staff loves the athletic build and versatility of Phillips on the field thus far. During a recent interview with Wisconsin Sports Heroics, Phillips revealed his interest in Madison along with his feelings regarding the program.
Wisconsin Football Targeting 2026 Four-Star Linebacker Tristan Phillips
Back in the middle of April following the completion of his season, the Wisconsin football staff extended a scholarship to linebacker Tristan Phillips. Phillips, a four-star recruit in the 2026 class, is widely considered to be a top linebacker in the class.
The linebacker stands in with a huge 6-foot-3-inch frame and packs a punch in his tackles. Phillips is athletic for his position, and due to his size his pursuit ability and tackling range are both stellar. Phillips shows plenty of versatility as well, and with a boost in muscle on his frame Phillips could potentially slide to outside backer or edge rusher.
Currently, Phillips holds 14 scholarship offers and has been in contact with plenty of schools since the opening of the recruiting period. Phillips stated that Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Washington, Arizona State, Arizona, Kansas, California, UCLA, and Minnesota have all contacted him. Auburn and Oregon State have also joined the mix, but only very recently.
Tristan Phillips: “I Think Very Highly of Wisconsin”
For Phillips, the idea of playing for the Wisconsin football program is a very real possibility in his mind. Phillips acknowledged that Wisconsin has a long standing tradition of producing linebackers, which is something that truly interests him. The linebacker stated, “I think very highly of Wisconsin. The last two recruiting class have been legit and they’re building something very special.”
As a linebacker, Phillips will join a handful of other talented players on the Wisconsin football team, which can often influence the decision a recruit makes. When asked about this, Phillips stated, “It definitely does factor into my commitment. There might be a school that already has a lot of linebackers on their roster.”
While the amount of linebackers may be an issue for Phillips, the quality of them is what he is truly looking for in his recruitment. When asked what he felt was the biggest factor in his recruitment, Phillips stated, “The coaches and players that I am going to be surrounding myself with.”
Wisconsin Badgers Football Staff Hoping to Win Over Phillips In the Future
For the Wisconsin football staff, landing Phillips in the future seems to be a priority as the recruit fits the mold of what the team wants. Phillips is a strong, athletic linebacker with the perfect build for the position, and his production on the field supports that.
Phillips is currently ranked as the 24th linebacker in the 2026 class with an 89-overall composite rating. With another strong season under his belt, Phillips can potential put himself in position to become a five-star recruit. The Wisconsin football staff truly love what they see from the linebacker, which is why the staff has placed a priority on landing Phillips in the future.
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