The Wisconsin Badgers have added two recruits in the last two days, and both are insanely fast. One is on the defensive side of the ball, and the other is on the offensive side. Each is a match step for step to the other, and hopefully, Luke Fickell will make them race early on in their freshman season. Do these two speedsters hint at a strategy that Luke Fickell has for 2026? And maybe even 2025?
The Badgers have added 4-star Zion Legree, who is said to have run a 4.35 40-yard dash as a junior, and 3-star DB Zachary Taylor, who has reportedly run a 4.39 40-yard dash. Those numbers are staggering as many of the fastest speedsters in the NFL run around a 4.3. Odds are these are two of the fastest recruits in the 2026 class.
The additions of Zion Legree and Zachary Taylor may signal a shift in recruiting for Wisconsin
We knew going into this year that Luke Fickell would prioritize defensive line players. He has talked a lot about how that has been a weak point, and they were going to work on improving that both in the transfer portal and in recruiting. The Badgers have three defensive line or edge rushers already committed, and many more offers are out. That was a known strategy.
However, adding Legree yesterday made it so that this is now the second and arguably the third player in the class who can run in the top echelon of high school recruits. Tayshon Bardo, the other WR commit in the class, is reported at a 4.4 speed.
Fickell and offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes clearly seem to be looking for wide receivers who can take the top off a defense and defenders who can hang with opponents' speed. It could be coincidence that it's back-to-back high school juniors who are already considered insanely fast for their age, but it could also hint at a strategy.