Wisconsin missed out on another defensive back heading to the SEC.
With official visits in the rearview, the Wisconsin Badgers are in wait-and-see mode with the remainder of their targets, with several announcing their commitment in July.
One of those players was four-star safety Jowell Combay, who announced his commitment to the Tennessee Volunteers on Wednesday.
Combay, a native of Georgia, had been a priority for the Badgers at safety as Wisconsin looks to get a second player at the position in their 2026 class. However, Tennessee had been trending for some time and was able to land the defensive back after a competitive recruitment.
Combay held offers from 33 schools, including the likes of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, and others. He took official visits to five schools: Wisconsin, Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, and Oklahoma State.
The safety had previously been to Wisconsin on an unofficial visit, and the Badgers did a good job of remaining high in his recruitment with the number of SEC powers involved. Ultimately, Combay is staying closer to home, with the Volunteers being his next destination.
Wisconsin currently has just three-star Zachary Taylor at the safety position in its 2026 class. Three-star safety Nick Reddish will announce his commitment on Friday, but the Badgers don’t seem to be the frontrunner there either.
Assuming they don’t end up with Reddish, Wisconsin will likely have to pivot to the fall for a second safety in the 2026 class, with a flip potentially being an option as it was with cornerback Cairo Skanes last year.