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Wisconsin Badgers make it into Top 6 schools for standout Illinois defensive back

The University of Wisconsin football program's recruiting efforts continue to put them in contention for yet another Illinois standout. The Badgers are among other Big Ten and Big 12 schools hoping to land a speedster from Rockford.
Jake Kocorowski|
Wisconsin football 2026 safety target Messiah Tilson, right, attended the Badgers' final spring practice April 24.
Wisconsin football 2026 safety target Messiah Tilson, right, attended the Badgers' final spring practice April 24. | Jake Kocorowski

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Wisconsin Badgers

Luke Fickell and his staff's recruiting efforts continue to put the Wisconsin Badgers in contention for another Illinois standout.

Messiah Tilson, a 2026 recruit who plays for Rockford Guilford, announced Tuesday his top six schools. Wisconsin made the cut alongside Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Minnesota and Rutgers.

Tilson recently took an official visit to Wisconsin late last month and was spotted at the Badgers' final spring practice April 24. He also traveled to Illinois and Iowa for official visits in April and had announced another to Minnesota from June 13-15.

247Sports, On3 and Rivals all evaluate Tilson as a high three-star recruit, and 247Sports rates him the highest among the three outlets as the No. 25 safety in the 2026 class.

He's announced other Power Four offers from such schools as Cincinnati, Indiana, Kansas State, Kentucky, Missouri, Vanderbilt and West Virginia.

Tilson lists himself at 6-foot-3, making him a tall defensive back with length. He's also known for his speed on the track, as according to Athletic.net, he ran the indoor 60 meters in 6.83 on March 15 and the outdoor 100 meters in 11.07 on May 3.

Wisconsin has six verbal commitments for its 2026 class, with three-star cornerback Carsen Eloms as the lone defensive back as of May 6.

The Badgers staff under Fickell has continued to make Illinois a key priority for the program, and the school already has one 2026 commit from the state in projected outside linebacker Carmelow Reed (Olympia Fields Rich Township).

Other 2026 targets from Illinois to watch include outside linebacker McHale Blade (Chicago Simeon), defensive lineman King Liggins (Chicago Brother Rice), tight end Gavin Mueller (South Elgin) and wide receiver Zachary Washington (Wheaton St. Francis).

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Jake Kocorowski
JAKE KOCOROWSKI

Jake Kocorowski has covered the Wisconsin football program since the 2013 season for a few outlets, most recently at the Wisconsin State Journal/BadgerExtra. He wrote, directed and edited BadgerExtra’s “Rags to Roses” series about the 1993 Wisconsin football team that won second place in the 2023 APSE Division C Project category.

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