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Luke Fickell Expedited Wisconsin Football Retooling Process Via Transfer Portal

Published

3 months ago

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Wisconsin Badgers football head coach Luke Fickell
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell arrives at Sky Harbor International Airport on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, ahead of their Guaranteed Rate Bowl game against Oklahoma State University.

Luke Fickell, the new head coach of the Wisconsin football program, is entering his first year with the Badgers, who are coming off a 7-6 season where they endured a losing Big Ten record for the first time since 2008.

That said, expectations among the fanbase are sky-high because of the culture of competition and credibility he’s brought with him to Wisconsin.

“The excitement around our program right now is off the charts,” McIntosh said. “It’s been incredible. I credit Luke and his staff and this team for everything they’ve done in creating a lot of buy-in from the inside out. I think it’s pretty powerful right now.”

Understanding there were cracks in the foundation and the expectations that come with a fat paycheck, he wasted no time attacking the transfer portal during the off-season to fill gaps on the roster and expedite the retooling of the team to fit the mold of his system better.

The Wisconsin Badgers Were Aggressive in the Transfer Portal

The transfer portal has become an increasingly important tool for college football coaches in recent years. And even though Luke Fickell expressed his desire to be a recruit and develop type of program, utilizing the portal in his first season was always going to be a must.

There were already several position groups returning core players. However, he and his coordinators, Phil Longo and Mike Tressel, needed to fill some gaps on their roster and bring in experienced players who could make an immediate impact in their respective systems…and boy, did he deliver.

One of the most significant overhauls to the team came in the quarterback room. After losing Graham Mertz to the portal, the Wisconsin football program responded by adding a trio of highly-touted signal callers: Tanner Mordecai, Braedyn Locke, and Nick Evers. On paper, this makes up arguably the most talented Badgers QB room in program history. It’s still bizarre to type sentences like these.

Adding some wide receivers was also a priority, given the shift in offensive identity to Longo’s air raid system. Consider that box also checked because UW added former five-star WR C.J. Williams, Oklahoma State’s Bryson Green, and Cincinnati transfers Will Pauling and Quincy Burroughs, who each made plenty of noise this spring. I’d argue that UW hasn’t had this talented or deep of a WR room in my lifetime.

Additionally, Fickell and his staff brought players like Jake Renfro and Joe Huber over from Cincy, each competing for starting spots on the Wisconsin football offensive line to shore up depth concerns.

On defense, Wisconsin had more pieces already in place, so they added niche pieces such as defensive lineman Jeff Pietrowski and Darian Darner, along with slot cornerback Jason Maitre and boundary corner Nyzier Fourqurean, all of which should see snaps this fall.

Without going into specifics, the Badgers coaching staff also brought in a kicker and punter to shore up their special teams.

In short, Luke Fickell crushed the transfer portal.

Final Thoughts on Luke Fickell, Wisconsin Football Program 

Luke Fickell’s aggressive approach to the transfer portal has been met with praise from Wisconsin football fans and analysts, deservedly so.

Many see it as a smart way to quickly fill gaps on the roster and bring in experienced players who can help the team compete at a high level right away, but it also sped up the retooling process and weeded out players that didn’t have a future under the new regime.

There are obviously risks from a culture and chemistry standpoint when you rely heavily on the transfer portal, but this past offseasons usage won’t be commonplace moving forward.

One big takeaway from this offseason is that he and his coaching staff will be aggressive regarding team building, whether on the recruiting trail, in the portal, or on the player development end.

This program is doing everything it can to put the Badgers in a position to compete for a Big Ten championship in his first year at the helm.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

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Wisconsin Football Named a Recruiting Finalist for NFL Pro Bowler’s Son

Published

17 hours ago

on

September 27, 2023

By

Wisconsin Badgers Football head coach Luke Fickell
Sep 16, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell prior to the game against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers football team received some good news on the recruiting front Tuesday evening. The coveted Eugene Hilton Jr., a promising 2025 wide receiver hailing from Zionsville, Indiana, made a significant move by narrowing his list of potential schools to six, and the Badgers proudly found their place among them.

As Hilton Jr. looks ahead to his collegiate journey, he’ll weigh his options between a few notable programs. The final six schools in his consideration are Ole Miss, Kentucky, Missouri, Florida International University (FIU), Miami, and our very own University of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Football Recruiting Still in the Mix for Son of an NFL Pro Bowler

According to the industry-generated composite recruiting rankings, Eugene Hilton Jr. is the No. 393 player in the 2025 cycle, the No. 55 WR, and the No. 4 recruit to hail from Indiana.

Currently, Hilton is considered a three-star recruit and one of the top 2025 pass-catching prospects in the Midwest — and the Badgers would be happy to add him to a verbal commits list that already includes quarterback Landyn Locke and defensive back Remington Moss.

Now, if the name Hilton sounds a tad familiar to Wisconsin football fans, you’re spot on. This dynamic young talent happens to be the offspring of none other than former NFL pro-bowler T.Y. Hilton. During his illustrious NFL career, the elder Hilton made a name for himself with the Indianapolis Colts and the Dallas Cowboys.

With the Badgers making the cut in Hilton Jr.’s selection process, it’s a testament to the allure and potential of Wisconsin football & its ability to attract new talent because of their air raid offense.

As the recruiting process unfolds, all eyes will be on Eugene Hilton Jr. as he evaluates his options. While the path to securing his commitment may be winding, one thing is clear: Wisconsin Badgers football is very much in the running for the talented young wideout.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

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Five-Star Specialist Erik Schmidt Talks Recent Wisconsin Football Visit

Published

5 days ago

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September 22, 2023

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Wisconsin Badgers Football left tackle Joe Thomas Hall of Fame
Photo: Courtesy of AMF Photos

The Wisconsin football program recently hosted several 2025 prospects during the Badgers win over Georgia Southern.

One of those prospects was Erik Schmidt, a touted kicker/punter out of Milwaukee. 

“I had a really good time,” Schmidt told BadgerNotes. “The atmosphere in Madison was great, and everybody was welcoming.”

Erik Schmidt Recaps Recent Wisconsin Football Visit

Per Kohl’s Kicking, Schmidt is a five-star specialist. The Marquette University High School standout is the No. 4 ranked kicker in the nation and the No. 1 punter. 

Wisconsin was the first school to extend an offer to Schmidt and remains his sole offer. However, he has been garnering some interest from other programs.

“Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State,” Schmidt said when asked what schools he’s hearing from at the moment. 

UW coaches Spencer Rymiszewski and Matt Mitchell have been Schmidt’s main points of contact following his scholarship offer. During his visit, he was able to catch up with the coaches and build relationships. 

“I’d say I have a close relationship with the staff. I talk to them multiple times a week.” Schmidt said. “We talked about how my football season is going.” 

It’s not just coaches who have been talking with Schmidt, however. Nathanial Vakos, the Wisconsin football program’s current placekicker, took some time to chat with Schmidt during his visit as well.

“I was able to talk with (Vakos) as well,” Schmidt told BadgerNotes. “We were just catching up because we were at a camp together this past summer.”

Wisconsin is reportedly near the top of Schmidt’s list, but he’s not in any rush to make a decision. He’s still looking to make his rounds and check out some other programs that have shown interest. 

“I’m going to visit Notre Dame and Michigan,” Schmidt said. “I’ll be back in Madison for the Ohio State game.”

That’s one of several standout prospects who will be in attendance for Wisconsin’s big primetime game against the Buckeyes. 

Luke Fickell and company are looking to have a scholarship kicker/punter in the 2025 class. If they are able to reel in one of the nation’s top kickers/punters, that will be a big win for the special teams group.

As it stands, Wisconsin football holds two commitments in the 2025 cycle from Remington Moss and Landyn Locke.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here. Also, like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers football news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Jake Maier on Twitter @JakeJMaier.

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Wisconsin Football: Badgers Expected to Land 2025 In-State Recruit

Published

6 days ago

on

September 21, 2023

By

Wisconsin Badgers football coaches Luke Fickell and Mike Tressel
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell (left) greets Wisconsin Badgers defensive Coordinator Mike Tressel after Fickell spoke to the media during Wisconsin Badgers football media day at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.

Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers Football program struggled to recruit America’s Dairyland in their first full cycle since taking over. That said, they’re hoping to change their fortunes in a deep group of 2025 in-state prospects.

Three-star linebacker Cooper Catalano from Germantown, Wisconsin, is arguably the top linebacker target on their board, and they have hosted him on several unofficial visits, most recently during the Badgers home game vs. Georgia Southern.

According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Catalano is ranked as the No. 470 player in the nation, the No. 43 linebacker, and the No. 6 player in Wisconsin. He currently holds offers from UW, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan State, and Minnesota.

His fit with Wisconsin football seems obvious, and after his latest trip to Madison, it appears that the recruiting insiders have a gut feeling about where he’ll call home.

Wisconsin Football is Trending for the In-State Linebacker 

Obviously, it’s still early in Cooper Catalano’s recruitment, but all signs point to the Wisconsin Badgers Football team keeping him home.

Badgers recruiting insiders Evan Flood of 247Sports and Jon McNamara of Rivals are in lockstep and have placed predictions for the 6-foot 200-pound linebacker to commit to Wisconsin.

As it stands, Wisconsin football has verbal commitments from quarterback Landyn Locke and defensive back Remington Moss, so it would be even sweeter to add an in-state product into the mix this early.

The Badgers coaching staff has injected some life into the program on the recruiting trail, and plenty of players want a seat at the table before the spots fill up.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers football news, notes, opinion, and analysis. Follow this link and use promo code: BADGERNOTES for 25% off your next True Classic order.

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