Phil Longo Recruiting Texas QBs With Conviction for Wisconsin Football

Phil Longo has a fever…and the only prescription is feverishly recruiting Texas quarterbacks for the Wisconsin football program.

Madison, Wis. — Shortly after Luke Fickell became the head coach of the Wisconsin football team, he made a splash hiring of his own, bringing in Phil Longo as the Badgers new offensive coordinator this off-season.  

Longo, who previously held the same position at the University of North Carolina, is known for his high-octane, air raid offensive schemes that have earned him a reputation as one of the best offensive minds in college football. 

At UNC, his offense’s ranked No. 1 in passing yards, touchdowns, passer rating, rushing yards, and total offense between 2019-2022–so Longo’s hiring was significant, to say the least. 

Under Longo’s direction, Wisconsin has begun to embrace a fast-paced, pass-heavy system that has produced some of the most prolific offenses in college football. While the Badgers have traditionally been known for their power running game, the addition of Longo marks a noteworthy change in direction and identity for the program.

Although constructing these high-powered offenses is his bread and butter, one of the keys to Longo’s success now and in the future — will be his ability to recruit and develop quarterbacks — a position that’s often left something to be desired for the Wisconsin football program.

Thus far, Longo has played a key role in overhauling and re-tooling the Badgers quarterback room. It’s also become quite clear he’s zeroed in on the state of Texas as a recruiting pipeline for QBs, a move that has already paid dividends for the Badgers.

The University of Wisconsin is Becoming a Legit Destination for QBs

Luke Fickell led his previous program to the college football playoffs, so he’s a draw for prospective recruits in his own right, but Phil Longo and his ecosystem is a quarterback’s paradise.

Needing an influx of talent at quarterback, Wisconsin landed SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai, Oklahoma’s Nick Evers, and Mississippi State’s Braedyn Locke, all former four-star recruits (and Texas natives), through the transfer portal this offseason.

“I think he’s the top offensive guy in college football and in the NFL,” SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai told UW reporters. “And, you know, that’s a big reason why I am here in a really successful offense.”

Under coach Longo, his starting QBs have a five-year average of 3,704 passing yards per season, so it makes plenty of sense that 247Sports recently named him one of the top quarterback developers in the country.

“From a football standpoint, he has tremendous knowledge of the game,” Locke said. “He’s truly transcended my understanding of football.”

Wisconsin Football Parlayed Transfer Portal Success at QB Into Wins on the Recruiting Trail

In addition to the three transfers, Wisconsin football also landed early commitments from two highly regarded 2024 and 2025 quarterback prospects from Texas. 

Mabrey Mettauer, a four-star 2024 commit, and Landyn Locke, a promising 2025 recruit (and brother of Braedyn), are among the top quarterback prospects in their respective classes. 

Their commitments further reinforce Phil Longo and his commitment to recruiting and developing top-tier quarterbacks from the state of Texas — and furthering a pipeline that leads them to Madison. Texas has long been considered one of the top recruiting hotbeds in college football, and Longo’s focus on the state could pay dividends for the Badgers down the road. 

With Longo at the helm of the offense and a talented group of quarterbacks on the roster, Wisconsin football is poised to make a serious run at a Big Ten title and, hopefully, the program’s first college football playoff appearance in the years to come. 

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