Tag: Luke Fickell

Wisconsin offers in-state offensive lineman last minute

The Badgers offered Garrett Sexton, a three-star class of 2024 offensive lineman from Hartland, Wisconsin on Friday.

The Badgers offered Garrett Sexton, a three-star offensive lineman from Hartland, Wisconsin on Friday. The 6-foot-7, 245 pound athlete still has one more season of football at Arrowhead High School before he’d join a collegiate program as a member of their class of 2024.

With Sexton set to announce his commitment on May 1, Wisconsin has made a last minute attempt at reeling him in, becoming the 19th Division 1 program to offer him.

As of right now, Penn State is the favorite to land Sexton according to 247Sports, but Luke Fickell and his staff could certainly make a last second pitch to keep him in his home state and have him come to Madison.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Badgers offer class of 2024 defensive lineman from Kansas

Wisconsin offered Kian Payne, a class of 2024 defensive lineman from Overland Park, Kansas on Sunday.

Wisconsin offered Kian Payne, a class of 2024 defensive lineman from Overland Park, Kansas on Sunday. He still has one more season of high school football at St. Thomas Aquinas before he’d make the leap to the collegiate level.

Although he doesn’t carry an official rating, Payne has now received eight Division 1 offers, with the Badgers being the first Power Five school to offer him. With it being late in the recruiting cycle, Wisconsin as high of a chance as any to reel him in for 2024.

So far for the class of 2024, head coach Luke Fickell and defensive coordinator Mike Tressel have already brought in three-star linebackers Thomas Heiberger (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) and Landon Gauthier (Green Bay, Wisconsin).

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Wisconsin offers four-star running back from Florida

The Badgers offered Byron Louis, a four-star class of 2025 running back from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday.

The Badgers offered Byron Louis, a four-star running back from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday. The 5-foot-10, 180 pound athlete still has two more seasons of football at American Heritage before he’d potentially join a collegiate program as a member of their class of 2025.

Louis has now received 24 Division 1 offers, including programs like Georgia, Ohio State and USC. That being said, Wisconsin is known for producing star running backs like Jonathan Taylor, Melvin Gordon, Montee Ball and Ron Dayne amongst others.

Head coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo will look to improve upon the early success of current halfback Braelon Allen in 2023 and Louis could potentially be next up to be a star in the Badgers’ backfield.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Badgers offer Ole Miss transfer cornerback

Wisconsin offered Markevious Brown, a transfer cornerback from Ole Miss who entered the portal after two seasons with the Rebels.

Wisconsin offered Markevious Brown, a transfer cornerback from Ole Miss who entered the portal after two seasons with the Rebels. The 5-foot-10, 180 pound athlete from Florida still has three years of eligibility.

Brown recorded 19 tackles while deflecting two passes during his second campaign with Ole Miss, his first true season on the field. The Badgers appear to still be interested in adding to their secondary ahead of the 2023 football season.

Luke Fickell and his staff offered Rhode Island transfer cornerback Antonio Carter on Wednesday as well. With safety Jason Maitre impressing this spring after transferring to Madison from Boston College this offseason.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

What are Wisconsin’s national championship hopes according to ESPN FPI?

What are Wisconsin’s national championship hopes according to ESPN FPI?

Each year, ESPN comes out with their College Football Power Index numbers that give a mathematical approach to each team’s chance to win it all.

Not only does FPI provide the chance for each team win a national championship, but also their likelihood to win their respective conference, make the College Football Playoff, and win their conference’s division.

Wisconsin is expected to take a leap from last season’s disappointing ending with the hire of new head coach Luke Fickell, but what are the likelihoods of winning the conference or even making the playoff?

Here is what ESPN’s FPI metric has to say about Wisconsin’s chances:

Badgers offer four-star safety from Ohio

Wisconsin offered Koy Beasley, a four-star class of 2024 safety from Cincinnati, Ohio on Wednesday.

Wisconsin offered Koy Beasley, a four-star safety from Cincinnati, Ohio on Wednesday. The 6-foot-0, 180 pound athlete still has one more season of high school football at LaSalle before he’d potentially join a collegiate program as a member of their class of 2024.

As of now, Beasley has received 12 Division 1 offers, with powerhouses like Georgia and USC already having extended offers to him. Considering he’s from Cincy, he’ll likely hear from Cincinnati and Ohio State at some point, but Luke Fickell’s name certainly carries value in his community.

The safety could wait a number of months to decide where he wants to end up, but if he chooses Wisconsin he’ll become their first commitment in the secondary. Three-star linebackers Landon Gauthier (Green Bay, Wisconsin) and Thomas Heiberger (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) already choosing Mike Tressel’s defense and the Badgers in the class of 2024.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Wisconsin offers Rhode Island transfer cornerback

The Badgers offered Antonio Carter, a transfer cornerback from Rhode Island on Wednesday.

The Badgers offered Antonio Carter, a transfer cornerback from Rhode Island on Wednesday. The 6-foot-1, 187 pound athlete still has multiple years of eligibility.

Carter recorded 55 tackles, 10 pass deflections, two forced fumbles and an interception with the Rams in 2022 and has increased his production over each of his three years at Rhode Island.

With Luke Fickell and Mike Tressel coming to Madison from Cincinnati this offseason, the Badgers’ defense is expected to remain one of the best in the nation and could certainly benefit from adding an experienced option to their secondary.

Wisconsin has already secured former three-star safety Jason Maitre in the transfer portal from Boston College.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Reminder: Less than one week until ‘The Launch’

One week from Saturday, the Badger football team will host “The Launch” at Camp Randall on April 22.

One week from Saturday, the Badger football team will host “The Launch” at Camp Randall on April 22. Starting at 1PM, Wisconsin fans will have their first chance to come see the new-look Badgers in action at practice.

Although there won’t be a traditional spring game, there will be 11-on-11 portions of the practice, giving onlookers an opportunity to see the players in action.

Now operating under Luke Fickell (Cincinnati) at head coach, Phil Longo (North Carolina) at offensive coordinator and Mike Tressel (Cincinnati) at defensive coordinator, the hype around the team is as high as ever.

With the likes of transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai and star running back Braelon Allen on the field, Wisconsin will look to show the fans what they got heading into 2023.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Cincinnati linebacker enters transfer portal

Linebacker Jaheim Thomas entered the transfer portal Sunday after three seasons at Cincinnati.

Linebacker Jaheim Thomas entered the transfer portal Sunday after three seasons at Cincinnati. The former four-star class of 2020 recruit was offered by the Badgers before choosing the Bearcats.

Thomas increased his production in each of his three seasons with Cincinnati, using his 6-foot-4, 245 pound frame to record 70 tackles in 2022. Making things more intriguing is the fact that his head coach Luke Fickell and his defensive coordinator Mike Tressel have now taken over in Madison.

Combining the facts that Wisconsin was interested in 2020 and the coaching situation, the Badgers seem like they’d have an inside track to getting Thomas’s commitment if interested.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Watch: Top Wisconsin wide receiver joins Sam Dekker’s podcast

Chimere Dike, the Badgers leading receiver from 2022, joined Sam Dekker’s “Varsity Beat” podcast to talk about his passion for Wisconsin.

Chimere Dike, the Badgers leading receiver from 2022, joined Sam Dekker’s “Varsity Beat” podcast on Thursday to talk about his long-standing passion for Wisconsin. The Waukesha native explained how he’s always been a Badger fan since he can remember.

Dike produced a team-high 689 receiving yards and six touchdown catches last season and he will look to improve upon that in 2023. Now under a new head coach in Luke Fickell (Cincinnati) and a new offensive coordinator Phil Longo (North Carolina), the wide receiver and SMU transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai are expected to lead the passing attack.

It’s always great to have an athlete like Dike in a leadership role considering his deep admiration for the university and its athletic programs.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]