Wisconsin Football: 3 Players Who’ll Benefit From Phil Longo’s Offense

Madison, Wis. – As if the hiring of Luke Fickell as head coach of the Wisconsin football program wasn’t shocking enough, he wasted little time choosing a transformative offensive coordinator of his own.

Coach Fickell convinced Phil Longo, who led four consecutive top-15 offenses (nationally) at North Carolina, to leave Chapel Hill and take the same position at the University of Wisconsin.

With him, coach Longo brings a modified air-raid offense. He’s done a terrific job adapting to his personnel at every stop – so UW traditionalists can relax – the Badgers won’t be throwing the ball 50+ times a game.

Even though the Badgers will have a dual-threat quarterback, Wisconsin football will still be a power running team – they’ll simply do it from a spread formation.

Here’s a look at three in-house players who should benefit from Phil Longo taking over as offensive coordinator of the Wisconsin football program.

Braelon Allen, RB

Nov 26, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) during the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Despite all of the rumors surrounding Braelon Allen, he confirmed he’s returning for his junior season in Madison. He’s coming off back-to-back All-Big Ten second-team performances, but the best is yet to come for the 6-foot-2, 238-pound running back.

How does adding an offensive coordinator that runs an air-raid offense benefit a bruising runner like Allen? By spreading out the opposing defense – that’s how. The sophomore tailback faced more eight-man boxes than any other Power 5 school – all because teams didn’t respect the Wisconsin football passing attack.

Next season that should all change. With an improved offensive line and better spacing on the field, I suspect that Allen will see the biggest running lanes of his young career. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him wind up on the All-Big Ten first team with a clean bill of health.

Skyler Bell, WR

Oct 22, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Skyler Bell (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Redshirt freshman Skyler Bell parlayed a breakout spring ball into a better fall camp and an honorable mention freshman all-American season for the Badgers.

The former three-star recruit caught 29 passes for 439 yards and five touchdowns. Additionally, Bell was UW’s fourth-leading rusher, adding 116 yards on 12 carries via jet sweeps.

Bell offers a unique skill set despite a surplus of talented options in the WR room. 

His speed is a weapon someone like coach Longo knows how to unlock and utilize. Bell has big play potential and has nowhere to go but up in what will hopefully be a much more dynamic Wisconsin football offense.

Jack Nelson, LT

Nov 26, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers offensive linenam Jack Nelson (79) during the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Anyone who reads my work knows I have a ton of love for the Wisconsin football team’s offensive lineman. In coach Longo’s offense, Jack Nelson will have a chance to flourish/increase his NFL draft stock in 2023.

According to Pro Football Focus, Nelson played 676 snaps this year, 314 of which came as a pass-blocker. The junior offensive tackle was the Badgers’ highest-graded lineman in pass protection (83.1), allowing nine pressures and two sacks on the season.

Nelson, an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick, has proven to be a rock-solid pass protector – and I thought he improved in the run game as well. His athleticism is impressive for someone his size, and he, in my opinion, does his best work in space.

Under Longo, opposing defenses will be more spread out, so Nelson should face considerably less pressure on a down-to-down basis and do what he does best.

Jack Nelson might be the biggest in-house winner of this coaching change.

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