Wisconsin football lands commitment from 2026 OT Maddox Cochrane
Wisconsin football landed 2026 OT Maddox Cochrane after an unofficial visit to campus. The 6-foot-8 tackle brings size, upside, and a mean streak.
The University of Wisconsin football program had several high-priority recruiting targets in the 2026 class on campus for its Spring Showcase—and for one prospect, the visit sealed the deal.
Following an unofficial visit to Madison, Maddox Cochrane, a 6-foot-8, 275-pound tackle out of Benedictine College Prep in Richmond, Virginia, decided he’d seen enough and shut things down, announcing his verbal commitment and becoming the sixth pledge in Wisconsin’s 2026 class.
Cochrane was one of the top offensive tackle prospects on Wisconsin’s board—and he didn’t mince words about how much the moment meant to him.
"First off, I’d like to thank God, my family, and my friends because none of this would have been possible without them. Thank you to my parents who have spent countless hours making sure I get what I need, whether it be rides to training and practice or cooking food or taking me around the country on visits," he wrote.
“Most importantly, thank you to all the coaches and staff at Wisconsin that took a chance on me and have decided to give me an amazing opportunity to develop and play at the highest level with them during my college career. With that being said, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be playing at the University of Wisconsin.”
The commitment is the second win of the cycle for offensive line coach AJ Blazek, who made Cochrane a priority from the jump. In fact, the Virginia native was the first offensive lineman offered in the 2026 class after Blazek took the coaching job at Wisconsin—and he never let up.
“I’ve been to over 20 places, and people always talk about that feeling—you just know when it’s right,” Cochrane shared. “That’s exactly what I had at Wisconsin. The coaches are amazing. It’s OLU.
“I just want to be the best offensive lineman I can be.”
Cochrane chose the Badgers over a lengthy offer sheet that included Florida State, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Duke, Boston College, Rutgers, Wake Forest, West Virginia, and several others.
He had official visits lined up with several of those programs—but after his Spring Showcase visit to Wisconsin, the decision to shut things down came into focus.
And the details of that visit paint a clear picture of why Wisconsin won out.
After watching the team’s spring scrimmage, Cochrane and his father had lunch with Blazek and his family. The connection deepened from there.
“Everything felt right,” Cochrane said. “Then I got to talk with Jake Renfro and his parents, and they only had great things to say about Coach Blazek and the program. That really sealed it for me.”
Later that evening, they all grabbed dinner at the Nitty Gritty—where Cochrane's verbal commitment was made official.
“I told him [Blazek] I wanted to commit,” Cochrane recalled. “He got a little crazy—jumped up and started dancing.
“He was pretty excited.”
There’s good reason for that. Cochrane is listed as the No. 769 overall player in the 2026 class, the No. 65 OT, and the No. 17 player in Virginia, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Cochrane is the second offensive line commit in Wisconsin’s 2026 class, joining Indiana native Benjamin Novak. And together, they’re laying the foundation for what the Badgers hope will be another strong haul on the offensive line.
That’s especially important in today’s climate, where programs like Wisconsin can’t afford to rely on the portal to fill gaps up front year after year. Those bodies come at a premium. For Luke Fickell and his staff, the goal is clear: identify the right talents, develop them over time, and maintain the standard of offensive line play that’s long defined this program. The more bites at the apple, the better.
Physically, Cochrane’s frame is exactly what you want in a developmental tackle. He moves well laterally, plays with a mean streak, and already flashes enough athleticism to be trusted on an island.
Yes, he’ll need to get stronger—particularly in the upper body, where more refined technique and strength will help him anchor in pass protection—but the foundation is there. And at 6-foot-8, there’s plenty of room for growth.
“I’m ready to make the program better in any way I can,” said Cochrane.
And that’s the part that matters most. Because for all the rankings, visits, and offers, Wisconsin’s coaches are betting on the long-term upside with Cochrane—and the person behind the pads.
Cochrane is scheduled to return to campus for his official visit the weekend of May 30. In the meantime, the Wisconsin staff keeps stacking pieces. They’ve landed their quarterback in Ryan Hopkins, an interior lineman in Novak, and now a potential tackle in Cochrane. The 2026 class also includes wide receiver Tayshon Bardo, cornerback Carsen Eloms, and edge rusher Carmelow Reed. It’s a balanced group—and one that, right now, ranks inside the top 40 nationally.
One step at a time—but it's worth paying attention when a staff with this track record on the offensive line identifies their guy early—because Cochrane was high on their board and has plenty of upside. Wisconsin hopes to sign between 20–25 scholarship players in the 2026 class, and traditionally, June is when the Badgers do their best work on the trail.
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