Latest news with #KingLiggins
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wisconsin football loses top class of 2026 target to a familiar Big Ten rival
Wisconsin football top class of 2026 target, defensive lineman King Liggins, committed to play for Bret Bielema and Illinois on Wednesday. Liggins chose the Fighting Illini over the Badgers, who were his only other finalist. Advertisement 247Sports lists the Chicago, Illinois, native as a three-star recruit, ranked specifically as the No. 910 player in the class of 2026, the No. 92 defensive lineman and the No. 21 recruit from his home state. The service lists a busy official visit schedule, with completed trips to Iowa on April 4, Illinois on April 11 and Wisconsin on April 23, plus upcoming trips to Purdue on May 23, Rutgers on June 6 and Virginia on June 12. Of course, that schedule may now change after his pledge to the Illini. Liggins joins an Illinois class of 2026 that sat No. 12 nationally before his commitment. That ranking is sure to rise once his addition is accounted for. Wisconsin's class of 2026, meanwhile, is down at No. 43 nationally with seven players committed. The class is far below Illinois' at this stage of the recruiting cycle, though much can still change with the official visit season set to heat up at the end of the month. In a vacuum, Wisconsin saw one of its high-priority targets commit to a Big Ten rival. Not only that, but he chose a neighboring program that is currently led by one of the program's former coaches. Advertisement That program, Illinois, is projected to continue its historic run in 2025. The team returns most of its production from a 2024 group that finished a program-best 10-3, plus it is set to face the easiest schedule in the conference. Bielema has done well in capitalizing on that on-field momentum on the recruiting trail. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is looking for a bounce-back campaign after a disappointing 5-7 finish to the 2024 season. It is also still in search of much-needed momentum on the class of 2026 recruiting trail. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football recruiting target King Liggins commits to Illinois
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin football loses top class of 2026 target to a familiar Big Ten rival
Wisconsin football loses top class of 2026 target to a familiar Big Ten rival Wisconsin football top class of 2026 target, defensive lineman King Liggins, committed to play for Bret Bielema and Illinois on Wednesday. Liggins chose the Fighting Illini over the Badgers, who were his only other finalist. 247Sports lists the Chicago, Illinois, native as a three-star recruit, ranked specifically as the No. 910 player in the class of 2026, the No. 92 defensive lineman and the No. 21 recruit from his home state. The service lists a busy official visit schedule, with completed trips to Iowa on April 4, Illinois on April 11 and Wisconsin on April 23, plus upcoming trips to Purdue on May 23, Rutgers on June 6 and Virginia on June 12. Of course, that schedule may now change after his pledge to the Illini. Liggins joins an Illinois class of 2026 that sat No. 12 nationally before his commitment. That ranking is sure to rise once his addition is accounted for. Wisconsin's class of 2026, meanwhile, is down at No. 43 nationally with seven players committed. The class is far below Illinois' at this stage of the recruiting cycle, though much can still change with the official visit season set to heat up at the end of the month. In a vacuum, Wisconsin saw one of its high-priority targets commit to a Big Ten rival. Not only that, but he chose a neighboring program that is currently led by one of the program's former coaches. That program, Illinois, is projected to continue its historic run in 2025. The team returns most of its production from a 2024 group that finished a program-best 10-3, plus it is set to face the easiest schedule in the conference. Bielema has done well in capitalizing on that on-field momentum on the recruiting trail. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is looking for a bounce-back campaign after a disappointing 5-7 finish to the 2024 season. It is also still in search of much-needed momentum on the class of 2026 recruiting trail. 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
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wisconsin top class of 2026 target receives notable prediction before commitment date
Wisconsin football class of 2026 defensive line target King Liggins will announce his collegiate commitment later today, Wednesday, May 21. Liggins, who received his offer from Luke Fickell's program on June 16, 2024, will decide between the Badgers and Illinois Fighting Illini during 247Sports' Ultimate College Football Show on Wednesday, according to Allen Trieu. Advertisement A product of Chicago Brother Rice in Chicago, Illinois, Liggins is 247Sports' No. 91 defensive lineman and No. 19 prospect from Illinois in the class of 2026. He's received offers from nearly 30 programs scattered throughout the nation, including from Iowa, Indiana, Purdue, Rutgers and Kansas. Here's Trieu's recruiting profile on the three-star recruit: "Liggins is a coveted prospect because at 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, he can play inside and is a little more ready-made than other interior prospects. That body type and the athleticism that goes along with it are typically more rare in the Midwest. So when they come along, these guys tend to be very heavily recruited and that is the case with Liggins. He shows motor and ability to run plays down. He is not just a guy who eats up space, but can also penetrate and make plays. But if needed, he can tie up blockers as well. He has grown steadily from 240 pounds when we first saw him to 265 to 280. We project him getting over 300 pounds and being a true defensive tackle." While Wisconsin is certainly a finalist, On3's recruiting prediction machine considers Illinois a favorite to secure Liggins at 88.2%. Wisconsin, meanwhile, boasts just a 3.0% likelihood to earn a commitment. 247Sports' Illinois expert Jeremy Werner also registered a crystal ball prediction favoring the Illini. As of May 20, Wisconsin's class of 2026 currently features seven commits and ranks No. 43 in the country. A commitment from Liggins would certainly boost that ranking, but only marginally. 247Sports' Ultimate College Football Show begins at 3 p.m. CT. Liggins' commitment is expected between 3:30 and 3:45 p.m. CT. Advertisement Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Football King Liggins pre-commitment prediction to Illinois
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin top class of 2026 target receives notable prediction before commitment date
Wisconsin top class of 2026 target receives notable prediction before commitment date Wisconsin football class of 2026 defensive line target King Liggins will announce his collegiate commitment later today, Wednesday, May 21. Liggins, who received his offer from Luke Fickell's program on June 16, 2024, will decide between the Badgers and Illinois Fighting Illini during 247Sports' Ultimate College Football Show on Wednesday, according to Allen Trieu. A product of Chicago Brother Rice in Chicago, Illinois, Liggins is 247Sports' No. 91 defensive lineman and No. 19 prospect from Illinois in the class of 2026. He's received offers from nearly 30 programs scattered throughout the nation, including from Iowa, Indiana, Purdue, Rutgers and Kansas. Here's Trieu's recruiting profile on the three-star recruit: "Liggins is a coveted prospect because at 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, he can play inside and is a little more ready-made than other interior prospects. That body type and the athleticism that goes along with it are typically more rare in the Midwest. So when they come along, these guys tend to be very heavily recruited and that is the case with Liggins. He shows motor and ability to run plays down. He is not just a guy who eats up space, but can also penetrate and make plays. But if needed, he can tie up blockers as well. He has grown steadily from 240 pounds when we first saw him to 265 to 280. We project him getting over 300 pounds and being a true defensive tackle." While Wisconsin is certainly a finalist, On3's recruiting prediction machine considers Illinois a favorite to secure Liggins at 88.2%. Wisconsin, meanwhile, boasts just a 3.0% likelihood to earn a commitment. 247Sports' Illinois expert Jeremy Werner also registered a crystal ball prediction favoring the Illini. As of May 20, Wisconsin's class of 2026 currently features seven commits and ranks No. 43 in the country. A commitment from Liggins would certainly boost that ranking, but only marginally. 247Sports' Ultimate College Football Show begins at 3 p.m. CT. Liggins' commitment is expected between 3:30 and 3:45 p.m. CT. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
