4-star edge rusher recruit from Illinois puts Wisconsin Badgers in Top 7 schools

The Wisconsin Badgers' efforts to recruit the Chicago area are keeping them in contention for one of the nation's highest-rated edge rushers.

Four-star edge rusher recruit McHale Blade visited Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice in April | Jake Kocorowski / Wisconsin Badgers on SI

The Wisconsin Badgers' efforts to recruit the Chicagoland area continue to keep them in contention for one of the nation's highest-rated edge rushers.

McHale Blade, who plays for Chicago Simeon, announced Friday via 247Sports his top seven schools. Wisconsin, Purdue, Illinois, Stanford, USC, Michigan and Notre Dame all made the cut.

Blade is a consensus four-star recruit who's viewed as no lower than the No. 33 edge rusher in the country by four outlets. Rivals currently evaluates him the highest as the No. 12 edge rusher and No. 110 player overall in the 2026 class as of May 23.

Four-star Chicago Simeon DL McHale Blade names a top seven.

He has officials set with five with the final two in the works.

His comments on each program here:https://t.co/evEB2y6bKb pic.twitter.com/KbJuHfsw7I

— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) May 23, 2025

Wisconsin Badgers On SI has confirmed that Blade is anticipated to be in town for an official visit next weekend, which was initially reported Friday by 247Sports.

The program expects to host other four-star talent the weekend of May 29-June 1. That includes edge rusher Jackson Samuels Ford, wide receiver Jayden Petit and offensive lineman Kamari Blair.

Blade and Petit most recently visited Wisconsin on April 19 during the program's spring showcase scrimmage.

Wisconsin already has one projected outside linebacker from Illinois committed in this 2026 class in Carmelow Reed (Olympia Fields Rich Township). Other Illinois natives to watch include wide receiver Zachary Washington (Wheaton St. Francis), safety Messiah Tilson (Rockford Guilford) and tight end Will Vala (Downers Grove North). Tilson took an official visit to Madison in late April.

More Wisconsin Badgers News:

• Wisconsin Badgers competing with Big Ten rivals as Top 3 schools for 2026 DL recruit
  
  

• Speedy 2026 WR recruit says Wisconsin Badgers offense 'changed the course of my life'

• 2026 linebacker commit Aden Reeder can do it all as 'Swiss Army Knife' for Wisconsin Badgers defense
  

• Why Wisconsin Badgers were 'the right fit' for 2026 cornerback commit from Indiana