Hey folks, so here’s the deal with the Wisconsin Badgers and their 2026 class of offensive linemen. I mean, who even thinks about 2026 when it’s still, well, now? But anyway, let’s get into it.
Maddox Cochrane. Ever heard of him? I hadn’t. But now he’s like this big deal because he’s committed to the Badgers. And we’re not talking small fries here; the guy’s like 6-foot-7 and 285 pounds. That’s like, if you stacked a bunch of kitchen appliances, but moving, with football skills. He made his announcement on Sunday, and apparently, everyone with an internet connection knew about it because he plastered it all over X and Instagram. Kids these days, right? #GoBadgers #OnWisconsin.
Cochrane’s got a three-star rating from all the sports know-it-alls: Rivals, 247sports, and On3. Not that I put all my faith in stars, but folks seem to care. He’s been on Wisconsin’s radar since March of last year. That’s like a secret courtship or something, romantic in a way, if giant linemen and football strategies can be romantic.
It’s wild. He had like 15 Division I offers all lined up. Feel the pressure much? Big schools too, like Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, and Rutgers, just to name a few. And then he did the dating game with official visits to Duke, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Rutgers. But mark your calendar ’cause he hits Wisconsin from May 29 to June 1. The suspense is real.
Oh, and let’s not forget he helped his team, Benedictine College Prep, win another state championship. Twice in a row. That’s a big deal, right? First-team all-state selection and all that jazz. Makes me wonder how they even fit through regular door frames.
Aside from Cochrane, the Badgers are assembling other offensive pieces like quarterback Ryan Hopkins, receiver Tayshon Bardo, and another lineman, Benjamin Novak. The defense isn’t getting left out either — there’s Carsen Eloms, a cornerback who hails from Indiana, and Carmelow Reed, an edge rusher from the Chicago area.
And y’know what, I just realized I missed watching the Spring Showcase ’cause of all this Cochrane talk. If I start rambling about quarterbacks Billy Edwards and Danny O’Neil, we could be here a while. Anyway, it all just gets you thinking — what will the Badgers do next, right? Well, guess we’ll find out when 2026 rolls around. Where’s my calendar?
