Wisconsin extended offers to two of the class of 2026’s top-ranked linebackers on Thursday: four-stars Tristan Phillips and Cincere Johnson.
Phillips, first, is a Ventura, California native and is 247Sports’ No. 199 player in the class of 2026, No. 12 linebacker and No. 24 recruit from the state of California. Meanwhile, Johnson is from Cleveland, Ohio and is 247Sports’ No. 127 player in the class, No. 14 linebacker and No. 5 recruit from the state of Ohio.
Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker
Both four-star linebackers are highly pursued, even at this early stage in the 2026 recruiting process. Phillips has eight total offers, including from Washington, Arizona, Arizona State and Notre Dame. Johnson also now has eight with the addition of Wisconsin, from programs including Notre Dame, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Louisville and Kentucky.
Wisconsin has now offered both prospects early in the recruiting cycle, though may have uphill battles to land either. On3’s recruiting forecast tool gives Phillips a 29% chance to choose Cal Poly, 25% chance to choose San Diego State, 22% chance to choose Arizona and 18% to choose Notre Dame. Johnson’s is a bit more straight forward — 44% to Notre Dame, 20% to Michigan State, 17% to Cincinnati and 14% to Louisville.
Time still remains for those predictions to change as more schools enter the mix. But Wisconsin is taking a few big swings at this early stage in the 2026 cycle.
Extremely blessed to have received an offer from The University of Wisconsin! Go Badgers❤️🤍@CoachTimGarcia @VenturaFootball @MathisGaius @Coach_Mitch_ @BadgerFootball pic.twitter.com/xLiWFIqTnM
— Tristan Phillips (@t_phillips11) April 26, 2024
Blessed to say I’ve received an offer from University of Wisconsin!#GoBadgers @WisFBRecruiting @BadgerFootball @AllenTrieu @RivalsWardlaw @MohrRecruiting @adamgorney @TarblooderFB pic.twitter.com/H5NQhwDCFI
— Cincere Johnson 4⭐️ (@JCincere8) April 25, 2024
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.
[lawrence-related id=75349,75031,74984,74691,74654]
