Wisconsin Badgers Scrambling to Fill Safety Spot as Early Signing Day Winds Down
As the Early Signing Period for the 2026 recruiting class enters its final stretch, the Wisconsin Badgers have just about locked in their group-except for one key piece. The team has signed every scholarship player except a safety, and now the clock is ticking as the coaching staff works overtime to fill that final hole before the day is out.
It wasn’t supposed to come down to this. Early in the cycle, Wisconsin had its safety spot all but secured with a commitment from Zachary Taylor, a Texas native who looked like a strong fit for the Badgers’ secondary.
But when Taylor flipped to TCU, it left Wisconsin scrambling. The program had put most of its eggs in Taylor’s basket, and once he was gone, the ripple effect hit hard.
Other safety targets had already moved on, and the Badgers found themselves playing catch-up in a market that was quickly drying up.
Since then, it’s been a grind. Wisconsin has extended more than 35 offers at the safety position throughout the cycle, but the results haven’t matched the effort. Several recent misses have only added to the frustration.
Take Brody Jones, for example. The former Cincinnati commit was a prime flip candidate for Wisconsin, but Missouri swooped in and closed the deal.
Azel Banag, who decommitted from Harvard amid growing FBS interest, was another late-cycle target. The Badgers made a push, but Banag chose Oregon and signed earlier today.
Then there were Jordan Vann and Toray Davis-two prospects who visited Madison in recent weeks and seemed within reach. But both opted for other programs, with Vann signing with Louisville and Davis heading to Texas.
These weren’t long shots; they were legitimate possibilities. Wisconsin was in the mix, but couldn’t seal the deal.
Right now, the Badgers’ best shot appears to be Kah’ni Watts, a three-star safety currently committed to Houston. According to Evan Flood of On3, Wisconsin is making a late push to flip Watts, though details about the relationship between the two sides are still murky. It’s a situation worth monitoring, but nothing is guaranteed.
Beyond Watts, the options are thinning fast. Chase Geter was another name the staff circled back to, hoping to re-engage before the finish line.
But Geter signed with Syracuse today, closing that door. Other former targets-Jowell Combay (Tennessee), Tony Forney (Pittsburgh), and Nick Reddish (Notre Dame)-all made things official with their respective programs as well.
There is one more potential name to watch: Aldarius Johnson out of American Heritage in Florida. Johnson’s recruitment cooled after he suffered an injury, which caused several programs to back off.
But Wisconsin could see him as a late-cycle flier-someone with raw talent and upside who might still have something to offer at the collegiate level. The connection isn’t strong right now, but with so few names left on the board, the Badgers may not have the luxury of being picky.
Bottom line: Wisconsin has done solid work across most of its 2026 class, but the inability to lock down a safety has left a noticeable gap. Whether it’s Watts, Johnson, or a surprise name that emerges late, the Badgers need to find someone who can step into that role. Time’s running out, and the margin for error is razor thin.