Wisconsin’s 2026 roster chatter keeps circling the same spots - running back, wide receiver, backup quarterback - but the quietest battle might be the one that matters just as much. The Badgers still have to sort out cornerback, and that room looks wide open.
There are eight corners listed on the roster, and only one is an upperclassman. The rest are redshirt sophomores or younger, which gives the group a strange mix of inexperience and upside.
Wisconsin didn’t get much meaningful game action out of any of them last season, but that doesn’t mean there’s no resume in the room. Several arrived with production from previous stops.
Javan Robinson and Eric Fletcher Jr. bring the most proven track record. Robinson started at cornerback for Arizona State last season and stands as the lone veteran in the group. Fletcher transferred in from Oklahoma State after starting 12 games, where he logged 11 tackles, three pass breakups and 1.5 tackles for loss.
The talent level stays high after that. Bryce West and Cai Bates were both former four-star recruits before landing at Wisconsin.
West came from Ohio State and is now a redshirt sophomore, while Bates arrived from Florida State and is also a redshirt sophomore. Both saw only limited action at their previous schools.
The freshmen add another layer. Donovan Dunmore and Carsen Eloms are both in the mix, and Eloms may be the more game-ready of the two because he enrolled early and went through spring ball.
Then there are the two returners, Jai'mier Scott and Jahmare Washington. Both were four-star recruits, and Washington was the No. 1 corner in the state of Illinois.
That leaves Wisconsin with a real competition on its hands. Robinson and Fletcher might look like the natural choices on paper because of what they did elsewhere, but West, Bates, Scott and Washington are all pushing hard for snaps.
If the freshmen aren’t ready right away, this could turn into a six-man rotation. One possible setup would have Robinson and West outside, with Fletcher, Bates, Washington and Scott all working into the mix. But that picture won’t get clear until fall.
For all the attention on quarterback and receiver, cornerback may be the most open battle on the roster. And with this much four-star talent in the room, the ceiling is high even if the depth chart is still a puzzle.
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For Wisconsin, the appeal goes beyond the rating next to his name. The staff sees a developmental piece along the defensive line, with the kind of frame that could be molded into a different role as he gets settled into college football. However the position picture ultimately shakes out, the important part for the Badgers is that Zion has kept his focus on Madison while his stock keeps rising. [Read more 🡒]