The Wisconsin Badgers faced disappointment on Monday when four-star outside linebacker McHale Blade announced his commitment to the Michigan Wolverines. Blade, a talented prospect from Chicago, was a top target for head coach Matt Mitchell during his official visit to Wisconsin, which took place during the first weekend of visits for the 2026 recruiting class.
Despite Wisconsin’s efforts to attract the top-200 recruit, they contended with strong competition from Michigan and Notre Dame, who also secured official visits from Blade following his time in Madison. The commitment to Michigan came after Blade experienced a successful visit with them, ultimately tipping the scales in favor of the Wolverines.
Blade is expected to play on the edge for Michigan, a program renowned for developing NFL talent in recent years. In light of this setback, Wisconsin is now turning its attention to other potential recruits as their list of outside linebacker targets shrinks. They are still in the running for four-star prospect Jackson Samuels-Ford, who is also being pursued by prominent schools such as Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan. Additionally, Wisconsin recently lost three-star Carmelow Reed to Ole Miss, which adds urgency to their recruiting efforts.
As the Badgers prepare for the upcoming official visits, they aim to secure commitments from at least two to three outside linebackers in this recruiting cycle. The path forward may be challenging, but with continued focus and strategy, Wisconsin has opportunities to build a strong 2026 class.
This situation highlights the competitive nature of college football recruiting, where programs constantly vie for top talent. With perseverance, the Badgers can still capitalize on their remaining prospects and potentially strengthen their roster.