How recruiting outlets have evaluated Wisconsin Badgers 2026 football commits

It can be confusing to see just how University of Wisconsin football commits are evaluated, and which sites view them higher than others. We dive into how each major recruiting outlet feels about every future Badgers player in May.

Penn receiver Tayshon Bardo (1) celebrates with the student body after a touchdown Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, at the Valparaiso vs. Penn football game at Freed Field. | GREG SWIERCZ / USA TODAY NETWORK

It can be confusing to see just how Wisconsin Badgers football commitments are evaluated and which sites view them higher than others.

There have been typically four major recruiting outlets – 247Sports, ESPN, On3 and Rivals – that have generated star ratings in recent years, though On3 announced last week its acquisition of Rivals.

247Sports and On3 also have separate algorithms (247Sports composite and On3 Industry) that combine all the evaluations of outlets into a single rating. And anyone can have their preferences as to which outlet they prefer.

On top of that, those sites update their evaluations throughout each recruiting cycle. A three-star sleeper may become a four-star darling, or a once heralded-recruit may drop down.

Wisconsin signees from its 2025 class that jumped up in rankings included outside linebacker Nick Clayton and safety Luke Emmerich.

That's a lot to keep tabs on. Wisconsin Badgers on SI will periodically keep track of not just the growing number of commitments within Wisconsin's 2026 class but also how the outlets evaluate them until National Signing Day in February.

Player	247Sports	247Sports Composite	ESPN	On3	On3 Industry	Rivals
WR Tayshon Bardo	3-star, 87 rating; No. 103 WR	3-star, 0.8726 rating; No. 116 WR	3-star, 77 rating; No. 108 WR	3-star, 87 rating; No. 126 WR	3-star, 86.70 rating; No. 105 WR	3-star, 5.7 rating; No. 92 WR
OL Maddox Cochrane	3-star, 87 rating; No. 65 OT	3-star, 0.87 rating; No. 66 OT	3-star, 78 rating; No. 59 OT	3-star, 87 rating; No. 66 OT	3-star, 85.62 rating; No. 63 OT	3-star, 5.5 rating
CB Carsen Eloms	3-star; 86 rating; No. 94 CB	3-star, 0.8652 rating; No. 80 CB	N/A	3-star, 88 rating; No. 51 CB	3-star, 85.80 rating; No. 77 CB	3-star, 5.6 rating; No. 11 player in Indiana
QB Ryan Hopkins	3-star, 87 rating; No. 38 QB	3-star, 0.8819 rating; No. 28 QB	4-star, 80 rating; No. 8 dual-threat QB	3-star, 88 rating; No. 34 QB	3-star, 88.25 rating; No. 27 QB	4-star, 5.8 rating; No. 27 QB
OL Benjamin Novak	3-star, 86 rating; No. 76 IOL	3-star, 0.8650 rating; No. 81 IOL	3-star, 78 rating; No. 40 OG	3-star, 88 rating; No. 61 IOL	3-star, 85.62 rating; No. 80 IOL	3-star, 5.5 rating
OLB Carmelow Reed	3-star, 88 rating; No. 70 DL	3-star, 0.8828 rating; No. 57 DL	3-star, 79 rating; No. 61 DE	3-star, 88 rating; No. 50 EDGE	3-star, 87.40 rating; No. 60 EDGE	3-star, 5.7 rating; No. 64 EDGE

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