Wisconsin football lands 4-star RB Amari Latimer in the 2026 recruiting class
Wisconsin football has landed 4-star RB Amari Latimer in the 2026 recruiting class, a physical back and the brother of a current Badgers player.
Sometimes, the recruiting board, the timing, and the fit all line up—and the Wisconsin football program finds a guy who just makes sense.
Amari Latimer didn’t need a fresh introduction to Wisconsin’s campus or coaching staff—he already had a strong feel for both. But his official visit to Madison helped set the stage for what was to come. That said, Latimer still took a serious look at other options. Even then, the Badgers staff kept their foot on the gas, clearing the board and putting on a full-court press that showed Latimer he was their top priority throughout the process.
The tailback out of Sandy Creek High School in Georgia announced his verbal commitment to the Wisconsin Badgers, adding a high-upside, blue-collar weapon to a recruiting class that is starting to gain some momentum.
Latimer, a composite four-star prospect and the No. 288 overall player in the cycle, held more than 50 scholarship offers and picked Wisconsin over a loaded group of finalists that included Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and Texas. Scouts rank Latimer as the No. 17 running back nationally and the No. 33 player in the state of Georgia.
But in the end, it wasn’t just about logos or national brands—it was about relationships, the vision for him in the Badgers offense, and long-term fit. And the idea of playing alongside his brother, cornerback Geimere Latimer, who transferred in from Jacksonville State, didn’t hurt either.
"When I first met Coach [Devon] Spalding, he had a ton of energy, and I was like, man, this dude is crazy," Latimer said. "But as I’ve got to know him more and more, it’s become a great relationship. You know, I’m cool with his family, and they’re cool with mine.”
This wasn’t some late push. Wisconsin offered Latimer back in October of 2023. Since then, the 6-foot, 215-pound recruit has undeniably been Devon Spalding's top target on the board. Now, they’ve landed their guy.
Let’s talk about what they’re getting.
Latimer rushed for 1,113 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 136 carries last season—good for an impressive 8.2 yards per attempt. He added 27 receptions for 363 yards and four more scores through the air, showing off a versatile skill set that goes beyond the traditional downhill runner.
"I have a complete balance of almost anything you look for in a running back, from size to speed to ability to make people miss," Latimer said, scouting himself. "I feel like I've got almost everything... people don't realize how well I move until they see me in person or play against me."
He’s built like a prototypical Big Ten back. But what jumps out is the vision. The patience. The ability to make guys miss without needing to dance to do it. Latimer runs hard, finishes through contact, and can break one if you give him a crease. There’s nothing flashy about it. It’s just physical, no-nonsense, between the tackles football, which aligns with Wisconsin's offensive identity.
And in Phil Longo’s old system, maybe it wouldn’t have made a ton of sense. But in Jeff Grimes’ run-centric offense? Latimer fits like a glove.
"If you can run the football, then you can do anything," Grimes explained. "Everything else is going to work. If you can't run the football, you become one-dimensional. That’s where it starts—running the football and establishing an identity that is based on that and a rugged mentality."
Grimes wants backs who can run between the tackles but also present a real threat in the passing game when needed. He wants guys who bring juice and toughness, who can ideally stay on the field all three downs. That’s Latimer to a T. He’s a one-cut runner with above-average hands. And that combination of power and polish doesn’t come around too often.
Latimer’s recruiting process was about more than just weighing options. It was about finding the right long-term fit. Now committed, he’s positioned to be a foundational piece in Wisconsin’s 2026 class and a potential selling point for other top targets the Badgers are hoping to bring with him.
To be clear: this is a big-time recruiting win.
Wisconsin didn’t just land a highly touted running back—they beat out some of the biggest names in the SEC and Big Ten to do it. Latimer brings pedigree and production to the table, and even with late pushes from some of college football's top programs, the connection he built with the coaching staff and the chance to make an early impact ultimately gave the Badgers the edge.
Now, is Latimer's recruitment officially over? In this era, nothing ever really is. Programs like Georgia, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Texas, and Michigan won’t go away quietly if they need a guy. But for now, Wisconsin holds the verbal commitment from Latimer, and the Badgers staff will have their work cut out to keep it between now and National Signing Day.
Latimer is now the 15th known verbal commitment in Wisconsin’s 2026 class. He joins an offensive group that includes quarterback Ryan Hopkins, wide receivers Jayden Petit, Tayshon Bardo, and Zion Legree, tight ends Jack Sievers and Jack Janda, and offensive linemen Benjamin Novak and Maddox Cochrane. On the defensive side, the Badgers have also secured pledges from cornerback Carsen Eloms, linebackers Aden Reeder and Ben Wenzel, defensive linemen Djidjou Bah and Arthur Scott, and safety Zachary Taylor.
This is the type of addition that can move the needle—because in an era where talent acquisition is king, Latimer’s the kind of back you could potentially build around if everything comes together. He’s polished. He’s versatile. He’s physical enough to make a difference early in his career.
And perhaps most importantly, Latimer checks a lot of the boxes you look for in a prototype bell cow running back, physically built for the role and stylistically aligned with what Wisconsin has long valued at the position.
It also fits into a bigger picture of how Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell has been building out his running back room.
The Badgers coaching staff didn’t end up taking a scholarship running back in the 2025 recruiting cycle after landing three in 2024: Dilin Jones, Darrion Dupree, and Gideon Ituka. They went all in on Byron Louis and came up short. This cycle, they took a similar approach, zeroing in early on Latimer as their top of the board target. This time, it paid off.
With the trio of Jones, Dupree, and Ituka set to handle the backfield this fall and all entering their third year in the program by the time Latimer gets to campus, he’ll have a valuable runway to develop under Coach Spalding. Add in veteran Cade Yacamelli, who’s carved out a role as a reliable program guy, and Latimer steps into a room where he can learn, grow, and position himself as a long-term successor in the years ahead.
Wisconsin’s track record as a program at the running back position speaks for itself. And while nothing is guaranteed, Latimer has some of the special traits that tend to show up in backs who have carried the torch at RBU.
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