• Wisconsin football has received a commitment from class of 2026 preferred walk-on athlete McCoy Smith.
• Smith, from Waunakee, Wisconsin, was a first-team all-conference selection as a junior.

Wisconsin football secured a commitment from class of 2026 preferred walk-on athlete McCoy Smith on Wednesday.

Smith becomes the latest recruit to join UW’s class of 2026 and the first since three-star edge Yahya Gaad committed on Oct 12. As of Oct. 23, he does not boast a national ranking, but he did notch a first-team all-conference honor at Waunakee High School in Waunakee, Wisconsin, this past season.

“I am so excited to announce my commitment to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to continue my athletic career,” Smith wrote on X. “I would like to thank all my coaches who got me where I am today and my parents for all the sacrifices they have made for me. Also special thank you to the UW coaching staff for believing in me and giving me this opportunity.”

As a junior, Smith tallied 80 tackles, including 27 for loss, and 11.0 sacks across 12 games. He concluded his junior slate by displaying his defensive dominance against D.C. Everest on Nov. 8 with 4.0 sacks and six tackles for loss.

As a preferred walk-on, Smith has yet to impact UW’s class of 2026 ranking. The cohort currently holds the No. 56 overall position in the nation with 15 hard commits, excluding Smith.

At 2-5, Luke Fickell’s program is currently positioned to venture to Eugene, Oregon, for a showdown against the Ducks on Oct. 25