Wisconsin football lands verbal commitment from 2026 DL Arthur Scott
Wisconsin football adds 2026 defensive lineman Arthur Scott, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound prospect from Ohio who committed during his official visit.
The Wisconsin football staff continues to build out its 2026 recruiting class with players who fit the Badgers mold—and the latest addition to the program comes from a key Midwest battleground.
Arthur Scott, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman out of Streetsboro (OH), has committed to the Badgers following his official visit to Madison.
It marks a significant development in his recruitment, one that had steadily gained momentum over the spring thanks to consistent interest from the coaching staff and a strong in-person evaluation.
Scott, an unranked but rising prospect, picked Wisconsin over scholarship offers from Michigan State, Rutgers, Cincinnati, West Virginia, and several other Group of Five schools. Scott's recruitment had been heating up after a strong junior season and a series of spring workouts.
That said, a private workout in front of Wisconsin Badgers defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow helped seal the offer—and, eventually, the verbal commitment.
That was a turning point.
And while the composite rankings haven’t caught up yet, 247Sports analysts see him as an 86 overall, the No. 115 defensive lineman in the class, and the No. 59 player in Ohio—a pipeline state Wisconsin’s staff has zeroed in on since day one.
Whitlow had wanted to see how Scott moved—his feet, his burst, his ability to mirror in space—and once he did, the offer came quickly. That direct, task-driven evaluation meant something to Scott. It built trust. And in the weeks that followed Wisconsin’s staff remained aggressive. Daily contact. Clear communication. Real investment. That effort paid off.
Scott first visited Madison in April for the Badgers’ Spring Showcase, giving him an early feel for the staff and campus. The official visit, though, gave him a deeper look—not just at the football piece, but the city, the culture, and the off-field fit. And in a recruitment where academics played a big role in his decision-making process, Wisconsin checked every box.
This is the kind of player you bet on if you're Wisconsin. Sturdy frame. High motor. He is still developing his body and skill set, but the core traits are there. He fits the blueprint of what this staff wants on the defensive line: physicality, a frame that can still add good weight, coachability, and a ceiling that can be raised over time through development.
Scott is also a reflection of how Whitlow operates. He’s emerged as a voice of credibility in that room and continues to help reshape the defensive front with players who bring toughness, upside, and a willingness to work. Identifying the right guys is one thing—closing on them is another. And in this case, they closed on the opening weekend of official visits.
"We definitely want to continue to focus on size, mass," said coach Whitlow. "You’re playing big-boy football [in the Big Ten], so you gotta have some big dudes with strength, power, and some mass to them to be able to withstand that every single week. So that is a huge emphasis."
Scott becomes the eighth known commitment in Wisconsin’s 2026 class, joining names like quarterback Ryan Hopkins, wide receiver Tayshon Bardo, cornerback Carsen Eloms, offensive linemen Benjamin Novak and Maddox Cochrane, edge rusher Carmelow Reed, and linebacker Aden Reeder.
And while he may not come with stars attached, Scott brings something else that matters in this sport: traits you can mold and the mindset to match. If you’re building a program the way Wisconsin football wants to, this is the kind of guy you want in the room moving forward.
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