The Wisconsin Badgers just took another hit to their 2026 recruiting class. Jack Janda, a three-star prospect out of Michigan who had been committed to Wisconsin as a tight end since the summer, has flipped to Big Ten rival Iowa - and he’s making the move as a defensive lineman.
This one stings a bit more than your typical decommitment. Janda was one of those early evaluations that Wisconsin prides itself on - a player they saw something in before the rest of the country caught on.
And to their credit, they were right. Janda’s stock rose significantly over the fall, not as a tight end, but as a disruptive force on the defensive line.
At 6’6” and 250 pounds, he’s got the kind of frame and athletic upside that defensive coordinators dream about molding.
As Janda’s film started making the rounds and his performances on the field backed it up, programs like Iowa and Michigan State ramped up their pursuit. Even as Signing Day drew closer, the recruiting battle never really cooled off.
Wisconsin was still in it, still pushing hard to keep him in the fold - and they were open to him switching to the defensive side of the ball. But in the end, Iowa won out, and Janda will now be suiting up for the Badgers’ longtime conference rival.
That decision leaves Wisconsin with 13 commits in their 2026 class. At tight end, they’re now down to just one: Jack Sievers. On the defensive line, they’ve still got Arthur Scott and Djidjou Bah, but losing Janda definitely takes away a high-upside piece they were hoping to develop.
It’s a reminder of how fluid recruiting can be, especially when a player’s stock skyrockets late. Janda’s rise as a defensive lineman was one of the more notable storylines this fall, and now we’ll get to see if that potential blossoms - just not in Madison.