
Wisconsin lost out on its top cornerback target this week.
The Wisconsin Badgers lost out on their top remaining cornerback target in the 2026 class, as three-star cornerback Jamyan Theodore committed to the Tennessee Volunteers on Tuesday.
Theodore, a native of Tennessee, had taken official visits to Wisconsin, Louisville, and Tennessee before pledging to the Volunteers.
Wisconsin had hoped to pair Theodore with three-star cornerback commit Carsen Eloms, but it was always going to be tough to get the Tennessee native out of the state. If the Volunteers had filled up at the position, it could have been a different story.
Theodore has a strong track background, running an 11.4 100-meter dash as a freshman in high school, showcasing his athleticism. The Badgers have coveted that type of speed in the secondary in the past two recruiting classes.
In 2025, they took three-star safeties Grant Dean and Luke Emmerich, who both earned offers from Wisconsin after posting strong track numbers. Wisconsin also landed three-star defensive back Zachary Taylor in their 2026 class, who has notably run a 4.39 40-yard dash in the past.
Unfortunately, they fell just short in the recruitment for Theodore, leaving them with one cornerback commit in the 2026 class heading into the fall.
Wisconsin was in a similar position last cycle, as they initially landed three-star recruits Jahmare Washington and Jaimier Scott before flipping Cairo Skanes late in the cycle ahead of National Signing Day.
Now, the Badgers will focus their efforts on late senior evaluations with a potential flip in mind ahead of this year’s National Signing Day.