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Wisconsin Football: Exploring the Genius of Phil Longo

Published

5 months ago

January 7, 2023

When Luke Fickell named Phil Longo as his offensive coordinator for the Wisconsin football program, it culminated in a courtship that lasted almost a decade. Fickell first tried to bring Longo into his fold back at Cincinnati, but Mississippi stepped in and got Longo.

However, becoming the head coach at a program as storied as Wisconsin gave Fickell the power to entice Longo from North Carolina. This fact alone speaks volumes for the image of Wisconsin football.

With Phil Longo — the proof is in the pudding

Phil Longo is a disciple of Mike Leach and the “Air Raid” philosophy, which features a shotgun formation, four wide receivers, and one running back. Different variations of this offense include two outside and two slot receivers or trip receivers to one side and the lone wideout on the opposite. These offenses typically generate large amounts of yards and, more importantly, points.

In 2016, the last season before Longo took over as offensive coordinator at Ole Miss, their offense averaged 32.6 points per game, 314 yards passing per game, and 464 total yards offense, per game.

After two seasons, the Phil Longo-coached offense averaged 33.9 points per game (PPG), 346 yards passing, and 511 yards of total offense. While the total points per game isn’t that great of an increase, his offense showed an 11.2 % and 10.1 % increase in passing yards and total yards per game.

The change that came in North Carolina was not only more significant, but the first season showed a tremendous increase in scoring.

In 2018, the year before Longo’s arrival, the Tar Heels averaged 27.4 PPG, 249 yards per game passing, and 442 yards of total offense a game.

Longo’s offense averaged 33.1 PPG, 285 yards passing, and 474 yards of offense per game in his first year calling plays for North Carolina. That is almost a touchdown more per game!

The second season at North Carolina showed even more progress. UNC’s offense scored 41.7 PPG, averaged 301 yards through the air, and 537 total yards, per game.

That’s a staggering 52% increase in points per game. And a 21% increase in both passing and total yards of offense per game.

He’s shown a willingness to adapt

Coaches often become married to a system and have difficulty adapting to the available personnel. A perfect example is when James Franklin took over at Penn State from Bill O’Brien. Christian Hackenberg’s QB rating went from 134.0 to 109.4 because he became to be a “dual-threat” QB instead of his natural role of a pure pocket passer.

In an interview with The Athletics’ Jesse Temple ($), Jeremiah Briscoe – Longo’s QB at Sam Houston State – discussed Phil Longo and his adaptability. “He’s going to put you in a position to succeed. He’s not married to one system. ‘Oh, I have to have a quarterback that can sling it 50 times a game’ or ‘I need a dual-threat guy.’ He’s not married to that. He’s going to play the cards that he’s dealt. He’s going to make them as best as they can possibly be.”

Phil Longo isn’t just an “air raid” OC

Phil Longo spent four seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Tarheels to further illustrate this concept. For two of those seasons (2019 and 2020), he had not one but TWO running backs averaging over 1,000 yards rushing per season. When they left the program, he allowed Sam Howell, his quarterback, the opportunity to run the ball more freely. Howell ran for 828 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns that season.

Longo’s ability to adapt to his players’ strengths promises big things for both Braelon Allen and Wisconsin football. Is it August yet??

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FootBall

Former Wisconsin Football RB Named to CFB Hall of Fame Ballot

Published

6 hours ago

June 7, 2023

Jake Maier

Sep 15, 2012; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Montee Ball (28) during the game against the Utah State Aggies at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin defeated Utah State 16-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Madison, Wis. –The 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot has been released, and a Wisconsin football legend is among the names on the list.

Montee Ball, who was with Wisconsin from 2010-2012, was among 78 players and nine coaches selected for the ballot.

Ball is among the most decorated players in Wisconsin history. The Badger legend received two first-team All-American nominations, along with winning the Doak Walker Award. He also received Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2011.

Ball placed himself in the NCAA record books when he tied with Barry Sanders for the most single-season TDs in NCAA history with 39 during the 2011 season and secured the NCAA record for most single-season points with 236. The Badger legend is also the only player in history to rush for 100 yards in three straight Rose Bowl games.

Ball amassed 5,255 yards and 79 touchdowns throughout his three years at UW. His best statistical season came in 2011 when the Wisconsin legend rushed for 1,923 yards and 33 touchdowns. On top of that, Ball hauled in 24 receptions for 306 yards and six touchdowns in the same season.

Denver would select the former Badger in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, where he spent two years as a Bronco.

Other Wisconsin Football HOF Representatives

The Wisconsin football program currently has four players and one coach in the CFB Hall of Fame. Barry Alvarez was the first Badger to enter the HOF when he was selected in 2010. Ron Dayne (2013), Tim Krumrie (2016), Joe Thomas (2019), and Troy Vincent (2023) round out the rest of the list.

Ball stands out in the 2024 class due to the sheer volume of his accolades. When voting wraps up, I expect the Wisconsin legend to be among those inducted.

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FB Recruiting

Wisconsin Football Lands 2024 Three-Star Interior Offensive Lineman

Published

17 hours ago

June 6, 2023

Jake Maier

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin football program has picked up its fourth commit in the last three days, with three-star offensive lineman Ryan Cory coming on board.

The news comes just an hour after four-star OT Kevin Heywood announced his commitment to Wisconsin.

Cory took to Twitter to announce his commitment.

Committed. @CoachFick @CoachBicknell @CoachPhilLongo @CaseyRabach_61 @RivalsFriedman @adamgorney @BrianDohn247 @outerlim @210ths @Coach_LeDonne #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/iEuQLDQm0J

— Ryan Cory (@RyanCory15) June 7, 2023

Wisconsin beat out offers from Pitt, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, Oregon, Rutgers, and many more. Cory was set to visit Pittsburgh and Vanderbilt in the coming weeks.

According to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, Cory is the No. 778 player in the nation, the No. 50 interior offensive lineman, and the No. 24 player in Pennsylvania.

What Ryan Cory brings to the Wisconsin football program

Cory is coming off a remarkable junior season. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman received First-Team All-Conference honors and earned a state championship win.

Looking at his film, there’s a lot to like about his upside. Cory is fearless in creating contact against defenders at the second level while putting out some key blocks for his tailback. His hand speed and placement also stand out.

In pass-blocking reps, the 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman is a brick wall. Cory can easily contain power moves from opposing linemen with his strength. He rarely gets off balance and consistently creates leverage against defenders.

Cory will be an excellent depth piece for the offensive line while he works on his craft. If the Pennsylvania native can refine his technique a bit more, he could be an impactful lineman for Wisconsin.

Cory joins Kevin Heywood and Derek Jensen as linemen to commit to UW. The Wisconsin football program now holds 12 commitments in the 2024 cycle.

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FB Recruiting

Wisconsin Football Lands 2024 Four-Star Offensive Lineman Commit

Published

18 hours ago

June 6, 2023

Jake Maier

Wisconsin football stadium: Camp Randall

Sep 10, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers mascot Bucky Badger prior to the game against the Washington State Cougars at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin football program has picked up a commitment from one of the nation’s premier offensive linemen.

Four-star OT Kevin Heywood took to Twitter to announce his commitment to Wisconsin.

Committed. @CoachFick @CoachBicknell @CoachHitsch @CoachPhilLongo @BCstrength @PatLambert13 @_maximus347 @nolanrucci @CullenLCasey @CaseyRabach_61 @MikeWakins pic.twitter.com/QuASQN786M

— Kevin Heywood (@KevHeywood52) June 6, 2023

UW beat out offers from some juggernaut programs, including Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, Michigan, USC, and many more.

According to the 247Sports Composite, Heywood is the No. 266 player in the nation, the No. 25 OT, and the No. 5 player in Pennsylvania.

The four-star prospect began his official visit to Wisconsin on June 2nd. He was slated to take officials to Kentucky, Auburn, and USC in the coming weeks. Instead, Heywood decided to commit to the Wisconsin football program on the same weekend.

The Badgers missed out on multiple in-state offensive linemen to Penn State early in the 2024 cycle. Because of that, securing multiple offensive linemen quickly became a priority for UW, and they were able to poach a top player out of Pennsylvania.

What Kevin Heywood brings to the Wisconsin football program

The first thing that jumps out for Heywood is his frame. Standing at 6-foot-7, 280-pound, Heywood stands out in his class, and he uses his size well. He consistently gets his hands at pad level and is able to drive defenders off of the line of scrimmage.

The Pennsylvania native thrives in pass pro. With his size, he’s a brick wall on the offensive front who can easily stop rushers in their tracks.

Heywood is a prototypical Wisconsin offensive lineman. His skill set could make him an immediate difference-maker on UW’s offensive front.

With the commitment, the Wisconsin football program holds 11 commits in the 2024 cycle. Heywood joins in-state OT Derek Jensen as the sole offensive line commits in the 2024 cycle.

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