Wisconsin football lands verbal commitment from 2026 DL Djidjou Bah
Wisconsin football has landed 2026 DL Djidjou Bah, a rising edge recruit out of Tennessee who fits the Badgers’ blueprint of size and versatility.
Wisconsin football has been leaning into its historical identity on the recruiting trail lately—and this weekend, that approach paid off again in the trenches.
Unranked defensive lineman Djidjou Bah, a 6-foot-3, 255-pound edge prospect out of Germantown High School in Tennessee, has committed to the Badgers following his official recruiting visit to Madison.
“Badger Nation I’m 🏡,” Bah wrote.
Even though the composite rankings don't reflect where Wisconsin's coaching staff feels his stock is headed, 247Sports rates Bah as a three-low star recruit, the No. 152 defensive lineman nationally in the class of 2026, and the No. 85 player in Tennessee.
This one has been brewing for a while.
Bah’s recruitment had been trending upward throughout much of the spring, with Power Five programs like Iowa, NC State, Duke, and Michigan State all extending offers in recent months. But Wisconsin’s approach stood out. Since offering at the beginning of May —after seeing him work out in person—the Badgers have made it abundantly clear that Bah is a priority for them in this cycle. Not just in their words but in their actions.
Multiple visits to his school. Daily contact. Consistent messaging. The kind of pursuit that shows a coaching staff is serious about you—not just interested if one of their top options falls through. He was a true take headed into official visit season, regardless of how the cycle panned out.
Bah’s profile fits what Wisconsin wants up front. He’s explosive off the ball, with a quick first step, solid lateral movement, and enough versatility to project as a true three-technique with some weight gain or shift across multiple spots, depending on the defensive formation. He could also be that hybrid edge presence this staff is prioritizing—someone who can stand up on the outside when needed or put his hand in the dirt to help support the run.
His frame is still developing, but the raw traits are there. Physical. Athletic. Moldable. That’s the new blueprint for Wisconsin's defensive front seven.
"We played very good football against 11 personnel and spread-out teams, and I feel like we knew exactly what we were doing and had great confidence," Mike Tressel said. "And when people started getting into bigger personnel, we didn't play the way we needed to. We did not stop the run the way we needed to. So, the mentality of stopping the run is first. The mentality of the physicality of this game of football, which is what this place has always been about, is what comes first.
"So in the offseason, we said, on our edges, we need to get bigger. We want to put our hand in the dirt and absolutely dominate. Could that result in a few less guys on the edge dropping? Yeah, but you know what? That means they get to rush. Now we get to be more aggressive."
This commitment is also another win for defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow and Badgers outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell, who both played pivotal roles in building a strong relationship with Bah.
That matters.
Bah wasn’t just looking for a football fit—he wanted a place where he could see himself thriving off the field, too. Culture. Brotherhood. Academics. Player-coach trust. Wisconsin was what he wanted.
It also didn’t hurt that Madison had never been on Bah’s visit list before this trip—and they still managed to make enough of an impression to lock him in.
Bah originally had other official visits lined up, including one to Michigan State, but ultimately pivoted his plans in favor of spending time in Madison. And by the time his trip wrapped up, the message from both sides was clear. The Badgers wanted him. And he wanted to be a Badger.
Bah becomes the 10th known commitment in Wisconsin’s 2026 class, joining quarterback Ryan Hopkins, wide receiver Tayshon Bardo, cornerback Carsen Eloms, offensive linemen Benjamin Novak and Maddox Cochrane, edge Carmelow Reed, linebackers Aden Reeder and Ben Wenzel, plus defensive lineman Arthur Scott.
There’s a long way to go before any of these guys step onto the field in Madison. But if you’re looking for signs that Wisconsin is returning to its identity—tough, smart, physical football built from the inside out—recruitments like this are a pretty good indicator of what's to come.
Bottom line: Bah may not be the most talked-about name in the country right now, but if you’re watching how Wisconsin is building, he fits the plan pretty well. And now he’s officially part of it.
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