Wisconsin football lands commitment from 2026 defensive back Zachary Taylor
Wisconsin football has landed a commitment from 2026 3-star safety Zachary Taylor out of Texas, who committed shortly after his official visit.
Sometimes, fit trumps geography. And every so often, a kid from deep in the South looks North, sees what the Wisconsin football program has to offer, and decides that’s where he belongs.
Zachary Taylor, a fast-rising safety from Katy, Texas, just announced his verbal commitment to Luke Fickell and the Badgers as part of the 2026 class. He chose Wisconsin over scholarship offers from Houston, Texas Tech, Minnesota, TCU and West Virginia, among others.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back is listed as a composite three-star recruit with an 89 rating from 247Sports. Taylor is currently ranked as the No. 540 player nationally in the 2026 recruiting class.
"COMMITTED!!! I am proud to announce my commitment to the University of Wisconsin," Taylor wrote. "I want to thank all the players and coaches that have supported me throughout my journey."
Taylor had never been to the Midwest before taking his official visit to Wisconsin. With both parents having graduated from Texas and several visits lined up to programs closer to home, this felt like a long shot on paper. But that’s the thing about official visits—they have a way of flipping the script. By the end of the weekend, the Badgers had done just that.
"I didn't think I was going to Wisconsin," Taylor said. "I really saw myself at some of the in-state schools. Once I got up to visit Wisconsin, my mind completely changed. I fell in love with it. It was beautiful.”
What stood out? For starters, the Badgers hit the right notes off the field.
Taylor and his family came away surprised by how much Madison reminded them of Austin in its college-town energy, and the staff leaned heavily into the family-first culture. Wisconsin made a point to connect beyond football—highlighting academic options that fit Taylor’s diverse interests, from kinesiology to engineering to a possible MBA down the road. He comes from a family with a medical background, and he’s wired to think about life beyond the game. That mattered.
So did the way Wisconsin handled the elephant in the room: the weather.
Like any Texan, the concern about cold winters was real. But the Badgers were prepared—breaking down historical weather data, comparing seasonal patterns, and demystifying the harshest parts of the year. Madison even cooperated and showed off one of its better weekends in a while.
More importantly, Taylor connected with the players and coaches in a way that was hard to fake. He felt welcomed not just by the safeties group but by the roster at large—guys he didn’t expect to hit it off with ended up being some of the most welcoming. That’s the kind of culture he was looking for when searching for a college football program that fit.
On the field, Taylor checks plenty of boxes. He’s an athlete with elite testing numbers and legitimate speed, the kind of defensive back who can cover ground in a hurry and stay sticky on vertical routes. He’s played corner, safety, nickel, and has even dabbled in return duties, offering the versatility to be deployed all over the field.
And while his ball production still has room to grow, he’s physical, decisive, and has the traits to be molded into a difference-maker at the college level.
As a junior at Katy Jordan High School, Taylor was named First Team All-District and Academic All-District while helping his team to an 11-2 record. He finished the season with 60 total tackles (40 solo), 12 pass breakups, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a pick-six. And if you're into measurables, his 4.43 40-yard dash, 4.13 shuttle, and 10-foot-5 broad jump back up what the film already shows: this kid’s a verified Power Four athlete.
Wisconsin saw that and made him a priority. Safeties coach Jack Cooper personally traveled to Texas to meet with Taylor, continuing to build a relationship that resonated with the family. And while Taylor still had official visits lined up to Pitt and Houston, momentum had shifted.
Now it’s official: Wisconsin just landed a verbal commitment from an intriguing defensive back in the 2026 class—and one of the more versatile ones on their board.
Taylor becomes the 12th known commitment in Wisconsin’s 2026 class, joining quarterback Ryan Hopkins, wide receiver Tayshon Bardo, tight ends Jack Sievers and Jack Janda, cornerback Carsen Eloms, offensive linemen Benjamin Novak and Maddox Cochrane, linebackers Aden Reeder and Ben Wenzel, plus defensive lineman Djidjou Bah and Arthur Scott.
The Badgers growing 2026 class has landed its first safety commit of the cycle, and it also gives coach Fickell’s staff another win deep in the heart of Texas. After missing on a handful of other priority targets earlier this spring and summer, the board is beginning to shift—and Taylor was someone this staff identified as a must-close. They put in the work, made the right impression, and now have a versatile defensive back in the fold.
In an era where culture, connection, and long-term development matter just as much as geography, this commitment says a lot about the kind of program Wisconsin football is working to build for the future.
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