Wisconsin football back in the mix for 2026 recruit after UCLA coaching change
Wisconsin is back in the race for 2026 DL Yahya Gaad after his UCLA decommitment. The Badgers host him for an official visit in October.
Sometimes recruiting battles circle back when you least expect them. That’s where the Wisconsin football program finds itself with 2026 defensive lineman Yahya Gaad, a former UCLA Bruins commit.
According to a source, Gaad is expected to take an official visit to Madison for the Oct. 11 showdown against Iowa at Camp Randall, when the Badgers will attempt to reclaim the Heartland Trophy from the Hawkeyes.
Gaad, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound prospect from South Gibson High School in Medina (TN.), is one of the more intriguing defensive line names on the board. Ranked by the Composite as the No. 472 overall prospect in the country, the No. 55 defensive lineman, and the No. 15 player in Tennessee, Gaad has the kind of profile that could make a lot of sense.
His path to UCLA wasn’t straightforward. He initially committed to SMU shortly after earning an offer in February of 2024, then backed away a month later as more Power Four college football programs jumped into the mix. Wisconsin offered a scholarship in December 2024. Defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow made a home visit in January. Gaad then took an unofficial visit to Madison on April 12 and later announced plans to take an official visit that was set for May 29–June 1. That trip never happened.
Instead, Gaad took an official visit to UCLA in May and committed to the Bruins at the start of his weekend in Westwood. But as is the nature of the beast in modern college football, when UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster was fired after a 5-10 start to his tenure, Gaad reopened his recruitment.
"I have reopened my recruitment," Gaad wrote on social media. "Thank you to everyone on the UCLA staff for believing in me."
It’s also worth noting that this wasn’t some late scramble to get back in the mix after his decommitment. Wisconsin had been working to flip Gaad well before Foster was relieved of his duties at UCLA, and this upcoming visit has quietly been on the table for a while. The Badgers' persistence is part of why this feels like the coaching staff has a real shot in this one.