Latest news with #ZacharyTaylor
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wisconsin football 2026 commit flips to an in-state Big 12 program
Class of 2026 defensive back Zachary Taylor decommitted from Wisconsin's class of 2026 on Friday. Taylor offered his pledge to the Badgers back on June 14, choosing them over in-state Houston, Texas Tech and TCU. Now, one full month later, he has walked back that pledge and flipped to TCU. 247Sports lists Taylor as a three-star prospect. He's specifically ranked as the No. 560 player in the class of 2026, the No. 44 cornerback and the No. 76 recruit from Texas. He was one of Wisconsin's key commitments from its June 6 official visit weekend. Aside from blue-chip prospects Amari Latimer and Jayden Petit, Taylor was one of the Badgers' highest-rated commits in the class. His departure now leaves Wisconsin with 14 commitments in the 2026 cycle. That group's national and Big Ten rankings fell to No. 58 and No. 15, respectively. Taylor joins a TCU class of 2026 that ranks No. 33 nationally with 20 commitments. He's the highest-ranked three-star prospect in the Horned Frogs' group. A disappointing recruiting cycle continues to get worse for the Badgers. The program is far from the top-25 position it held in 2024 and 2025. With most of the program's top 2026 targets already off the board, it's hard to see it dramatically improving on its current mid-50s ranking. While poor on-field results in 2024 may have impacted the program's 2026 recruiting, fans should hope a bounce-back 2025 season can carry into a strong performance in the 2027 cycle. Contact/Follow on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football recruiting 2026 commit Zachary Taylor flips to TCU
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Where Wisconsin football's class of 2026 ranks after Zachary Taylor's decommitment
Wisconsin football's recruiting class of 2026 lost a notable commitment on Friday. Three-star defensive back Zachary Taylor, who committed to Wisconsin in mid-June following his official visit, walked back his pledge and flipped to TCU. The Texas native had listed the Horned Frogs as a finalist before choosing the Badgers last month. His flip drops the Badgers to 14 class of 2026 commitments. That group now ranks No. 58 nationally and No. 15 in the Big Ten. Its standing has fallen dramatically after late-June commitments from blue-chip running back Amari Latimer and wide receiver Jayden Petit brought the group's ranking into the mid-30s. Notably, that standing is in line with the program's No. 59 finish in the 2023 cycle. Remember, Luke Fickell had only weeks to salvage Wisconsin's class that year after taking the job in late November. A high-50s national ranking during a normal cycle is far from the expectation under Fickell, a coach known for his recruiting prowess. Those high expectations were only heightened by his consecutive top-25 finishes in 2024 and 2025. Wisconsin may go back to the drawing board at safety after Taylor's decommitment. Even if it lands a replacement, it's hard to see the class' standing improving significantly. Wisconsin needs a resurgent 2025 football season to build momentum entering next summer's class of 2027 cycle. Contact/Follow on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin recruiting class national ranking after Zachary Taylor flip
Chicago Tribune
09-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Today in History: South Sudan becomes an independent nation
Today is Wednesday, July 9, the 190th day of 2024. There are 175 days left in the year. Today in History: On July 9, 2011, South Sudan officially became an independent nation. Also on this date: In 1850, President Zachary Taylor died of gastrointestinal illness after consuming a large amount of cherries and iced milk on a hot day five days earlier; Vice President Millard Fillmore was sworn in as president the following day. In 1868, the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, granting citizenship and 'equal protection under the laws' to anyone 'born or naturalized in the United States,' including formerly enslaved people. In 1896, William Jennings Bryant delivered his famous 'Cross of Gold' speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In 1918, 101 people were killed in a train collision in Nashville, Tennessee in the deadliest US rail disaster in history. In 1937, a fire at 20th Century Fox's storage facility in Little Ferry, New Jersey, destroyed most of the studio's silent films. In 1943, during World War II, the Allies launched Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. In 1944, during World War II, American forces secured Saipan as the last Japanese defenses fell. In 1947, the engagement of Britain's Princess Elizabeth to Lt. Philip Mountbatten was announced. In 1965, the Sonny & Cher single 'I Got You Babe' was released by ATCO Records. In 1982, Pan Am Flight 759, a Boeing 727, crashed in Kenner, Louisiana, shortly after takeoff from New Orleans International Airport, killing all 145 people aboard and eight people on the ground. In 2004, a Senate Intelligence Committee report concluded the CIA had provided unfounded assessments of the threat posed by Iraq that the Bush administration had relied on to justify going to war. In 2010, the largest U.S.-Russia spy swap since the Cold War was completed on a remote stretch of Vienna airport tarmac as planes from New York and Moscow arrived within minutes of each other with 10 Russian sleeper agents and four prisoners accused by Russia of spying for the West. In 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to fill the seat left vacant by the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. Today's Birthdays: Artist David Hockney is 88. Author Dean Koontz is 80. Actor Chris Cooper is 74. Musician and TV personality John Tesh is 73. Country singer David Ball is 72. Business executive/TV personality Kevin O'Leary (TV: 'Shark Tank') is 71. Singer Debbie Sledge (Sister Sledge) is 71. Actor Jimmy Smits is 70. US Senator Lindsey Graham is 70. Actor Tom Hanks is 69. Singer Marc Almond is 68. Actor Kelly McGillis is 68. Rock singer Jim Kerr (Simple Minds) is 66. Actor-rock singer Courtney Love is 61. Actor Pamela Adlon is 59. Actor Scott Grimes is 54. Actor Enrique Murciano (TV: 'Without a Trace') is 52. Musician/producer Jack White is 50. Rock singer-musician Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) is 50. Actor-director Fred Savage is 49. Actor Linda Park (TV: 'Star Trek: Enterprise') is 47. Actor Megan Parlen is 45. Animator/writer/producer Rebecca Sugar is 38. Actor Mitchel Musso is 34. Actor Georgie Henley (Film: 'The Chronicles of Narnia') is 30.
USA Today
14-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin football has a new highest-ranked commit in the class of 2026
Wisconsin football has a new highest-ranked commit in the class of 2026 Wisconsin football landed a commitment from class of 2026 three-star defensive back Zachary Taylor on Friday. Taylor chose the Badgers over top contenders Houston, Texas Tech and TCU. He completed visits to the latter two on June 3 and May 2, respectively, plus was scheduled to visit Houston on June 19. Just one full week after his June 6 official visit to Madison, Wisconsin, Taylor pledged to the Badgers. 247Sports ranks the Fulshear, Texas, native as the No. 540 overall player in the class of 2026, the No. 43 cornerback and the No. 76 recruit from his home state. He became Wisconsin's 12th commitment in the 2026 cycle. Notably, he is now the highest-ranked recruit of that group, edging three-star defensive lineman Djidjou Bah. His commitment pushed the class up to No. 35 nationally and No. 12 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell and his staff are working to deliver a third consecutive top-25 recruiting class. While the program's 2026 class is a significant distance from that threshold, partially because it is still looking for its first blue-chip commit, several of its top targets remain uncommitted. Taylor's commitment may begin a run of positive recruiting news in that regard. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Secures Commitment From Versatile DB Zachary Taylor
Wisconsin Secures Commitment From Versatile DB Zachary Taylor originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After over a week without an addition to its 2026 class, the Wisconsin football team got back on the board with the commitment of 3-star defensive back Zachary Taylor (Katy, Texas). Advertisement Pulling Taylor out of Texas wasn't going to be easy, but he took an official visit to Wisconsin at the start of the month, and the Badgers took advantage of his time in Madison. Beyond Wisconsin, Taylor's official visits included West Virginia, Texas Tech, Pitt, and Houston. He ultimately chose the Badgers over the other four programs. The newest Wisconsin commit announced his pledge to the Badgers via his social media. With a background as a multi-sport athlete that includes track and soccer, Taylor's athleticism has the Wisconsin football staff extremely excited, and they anticipate he'll develop into a standout player. Advertisement He is a versatile player who has played both cornerback and safety in high school. Although he is listed as a cornerback on 247Sports, the Wisconsin staff views him as a safety. Zachary Taylor in the Recruiting Rankings Though currently rated as a 3-star prospect by major recruiting services, Taylor is a perfect example of the type of player whose ranking could significantly improve, possibly reaching 4-star status by the end of his senior year. But as of right now, here is where he falls on the major recruiting websites. 247Sports 247Sports probably has the highest rating on Taylor, albeit as a cornerback. But a rating of 89 is a borderline 4-star player on its rating scale. The 247Sports Composite has him as the 439th-overall player in the country and the 43rd-ranked cornerback. Advertisement Rivals Similar to 247Sports, Rivals has Taylor as a borderline 4-star player. Their 5.7 rating for the new Wisconsin football commit is the highest rating a 3-star prospect can get before hitting 5.8, which would give him a fourth star. The recruiting site does not have him in any national, state, or positional rankings. On3 On3 is the site lowest on Taylor. They have him as a 3-star prospect as well and a rating of just 85.95. 3-star prospects fall in the 80-89 range. They have him as the 926th-overall prospect in the 2026 class and the 83rd-ranked safety. Where the Wisconsin Football Recruiting Class Stands With the Addition of Taylor Zachary Taylor's commitment pushed the 2026 class to 12 players for the Wisconsin football program. The addition of Taylor gives the Badgers a nice little boost, pushing them from 40th to 33rd in the 247Sports Team Rankings as it currently stands. Advertisement Taylor also becomes the Bagders' top-ranked player in the class according to the 247Sports rankings. With just 12 committed players, the Wisconsin football team still has plenty of work to do in filling out the rest of this class. 4-star running back Amari Latimer is a top target for the team, and there are still a few targets at wide receiver, including Jayden Petit, Zachary Washington, and Zion Legree. Recruiting may have slowed down a bit, but there are still things coming in the near future. Related: 2028 QB JJ Chapman Talks Wisconsin Camp, Recruitment Stay in the loop with all things Wisconsin Badgers football and men's basketball by visiting for more updates. Ready to join the community? Follow Athlon Sports on YouTube, Facebook, and X to join in on the conversation. You can also follow Staff Writer Christian Borman at @ChristianBorman on X. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
