Wisconsin beats out LSU, Ole Miss, and others for highly coveted linebacker recruit

The Wisconsin Badgers added an important commitment today for the 2026 class in defensive end Carmelow Reed. Reed was a highly sought-after recruit from Olympia Fields, Illinois. Reed is rated a 3-star LB by 24/7 Sports and the third commitment for head coach Luke Fickell in the 2026 class.

3-star OLB/DE Carmelow Reed commits to the Wisconsin Badgers and Luke Fickell

Carmelow Reed is fresh off his visit to Madison. He came this last week to some of the spring practices and learned all about the program. He told Evan Flood of 24/7 Sports that, "I feel like Wisconsin will really be home for me."

He was a highly sought-after recruit, with 16 offers, some from pretty high-profile programs, including a few SEC schools. He holds offers from LSU, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Missouri, Minnesota, Cincinnati, and many others. He decided today that playing for Luke Fickell, Mike Tressel, and the Wisconsin Badgers was the best fit for him.

Reed has tremendous size. At 6'7" and 250 lbs, he most likely will find himself playing along the edge and rushing the quarterback. However, he's big enough to stuff the run and get inside as needed, too. He will be someone that Tressel can lean on as he develops along the defensive line and maybe even in the outside linebacker position.

Reed joins two other Wisconsin commits in the 2026 class (so far). He's the third commit after WR Tayshon Bardo, who committed last month, and OL Benjamin Novak, who has been in the class for a while. There's still a lot more coming to make up this recruiting class, but so far, Fickell has done a nice job with the three he's grabbed. All three are high-end 3-star recruits and are still developing as they have another season of high school football left.