Wisconsin Football Hiring Veteran SEC Coach to Badgers Staff

If the reports from FootballScoop.com prove to be accurate, Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell has found the football program’s next offensive line coach. 

In a surprising move, going outside of his known coaching and relationship circle, the Badgers are hiring SEC offensive line coach A.J. Blazek in a lateral coaching hire to join the University of Wisconsin. 

Former Wisconsin Badgers offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr. was reassigned by the football team, taking on a different role and opening up the opportunity to find a better fit for their linemen. 

Blazek is a veteran offensive line coach who has had stints at Fort Hays State (2005-2008), Winona State (2009-2012), Western Illinois (2013-2015), Rutgers (2016-2018), North Dakota State (2019-2020), and most recently Vanderbilt of the SEC for the past three seasons. 

He will now join a Wisconsin football team that needs its offensive line play to return to the Badgers standard and promote some development. 

Wisconsin Football Reportedly Hires A.J. Blazek as O-Line Coach

Wisconsin football has gone through four offensive line coaches in the last four seasons, which is unsuitable for development or continuity purposes, so let’s hope this Badgers hiring sticks. 

The Badgers are expected to bring back three starters next season: left tackle Jack Nelson, right tackle Riley Mahlman, and guard Joe Huber. Another potential starting option is center Jake Renfro, who started the ReliaQuest Bowl game against LSU. 

The Wisconsin football team lost former five-star offensive tackle Nolan Rucci and the unofficial sixth starting lineman Trey Wedig to the transfer portal this offseason and will need to rebuild its depth. 

A.J. Blazek has his work cut out for him, but talent-wise, the Badgers’ cupboards are far from empty. 

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