Owen Tyler
Writer
Madison, Wis.
The recruiting outlook for the Wisconsin Badgers football program took a hit Monday when three-star offensive tackle Maddox Cochrane officially decommitted from the 2026 class. The 6-foot-7, 290-pound lineman from Virginia had been solidly in Wisconsin’s class since his April pledge following an extended recruitment.
His decision leaves Wisconsin with just one offensive lineman committed in the cycle, fellow three-star Benjamin Novak, and trims depth at a critical position as the signing period gets closer.
When Cochrane committed in April, he talked about how his visit to Madison felt like home.
“I know a lot of people say you just get the feeling, and I definitely did when I was there. … The coaching staff is just fantastic. Coach Blaz’ is a great person, great coach. The offensive line room is really, really well put together.”
He also pointed to the development track the Badgers sell in the offensive line room.
“They have a lot of time to individually sit down with each player and really help develop them … I couldn’t find a better offensive-line room in the country, honestly.”
In his original announcement, Cochrane thanked the staff for believing in him and framing his future in Madison at a high level.
“Thank you to the coaches and staff at Wisconsin that took a chance on me and have decided to give me an amazing opportunity to develop and play at the highest level with them during my college career.”
Cochrane’s move caught the program off guard. He had not publicly signaled a change of heart or serious contact with new schools, despite earlier interest from Virginia and Duke.
With Cochrane gone, Wisconsin’s 2026 class sits at 14 commitments. That tightens the margin for error and makes offensive tackle a clear priority. The staff will need to revisit former targets, look for late risers, and lean on the program’s offensive line tradition while keeping the rest of the class steady.
If the Badgers respond quickly, this becomes a setback rather than a crisis. Continued movement in the class, however, would raise larger questions about how the 2026 group finishes.
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