Top-ranked class of 2026 linebacker target includes Badgers in final list

Madison welcomes 2026 linebacker target as he includes the university on his final list

Wisconsin has landed a spot on the final list of one of the top linebackers in the class of 2026, showing that Luke Fickell and his staff are making progress on the recruiting trail.

Jayden McGowan, a four-star linebacker from St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Kenosha, Wis., announced his top 10 schools on Twitter on Friday. The Badgers made the cut along with Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, Vanderbilt, and Washington.

McGowan is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker who is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 1 linebacker in the class of 2026 and the No. 19 overall prospect. He has a great combination of size, speed, and athleticism, and he’s a hard hitter who can also drop back into coverage.

The Badgers offered McGowan a scholarship in May, and he visited Madison for the first time in June. He was impressed with what he saw during his visit, and he said that the Badgers are “definitely a school that I’m considering.”

McGowan is still in the early stages of his recruitment, but he’s already one of the most sought-after linebackers in the country. The Badgers are in good position to land him, but they’ll have to fend off some stiff competition from some of the top programs in the country.