Tag: Luke Fickell

Wisconsin listed in top 10 of 247Sports’ future rankings

The Badger Football team was ranked as the 10th best team in 247Sports’ 2025 college football rankings Thursday.

The Badger football team was ranked as the 10th-best team in 247Sports’ 2025 college football rankings on Thursday. Fueled by the addition of head coach Luke Fickell, Wisconsin appears to be on its way to the top in the next couple years.

With Fickell at the helm, the Badgers have brought in top coordinators Phil Longo (offense) and Mike Tressel (defense), which led to the acquisition of some of the top transfers and recruits in program history.

Class of 2024 four-star quarterback Mabrey Mettauer (The Woodlands, Texas) is among the many athletes the team has reeled in since Fickell took over in November. He is expected to lead the offense for multiple years.

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

Badgers offer 6-foot-5 class of 2025 edge rusher

Wisconsin offered CJ Nickson, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound class of 2025 edge rusher from Weatherford, Oklahoma on Tuesday.

Wisconsin offered CJ Nickson, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound class of 2025 edge rusher from Weatherford, Oklahoma on Tuesday. Nickson still has two more seasons of football and basketball as multi-sport athlete at Weatherford High School before he’d potentially make the leap to a collegiate program in 2025.

Nickson has now received six Division 1 football offers, with Wisconsin becoming the first school from the Big Ten to offer him. Based on the fact that Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have offered him already, they should likely be considered the favorites to land him, but Wisconsin definitely has a shot.

With Luke Fickell at head coach and Mike Tressel at defensive coordinator, the Badgers feel more likely than ever to reel in defensive recruits moving forward.

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

Wisconsin Football offers nations top wrestler

The Badgers offered superstar wrestler Dillan Johnson, who’s also a three-star class of 2024 defensive lineman from Joliet, Illinois.

The Badgers offered superstar wrestler Dillan Johnson, who’s also a three-star class of 2024 defensive lineman from Joliet, Illinois on Saturday. Johnson went 104-0 in his career as a wrestler at Joliet Catholic Academy, ranking him as the top high school heavyweight in the country.

After he visited Wisconsin on an unofficial visit last weekend, the 6-foot-2, 287-pound athlete picked up an offer from the Badgers’ football team. Johnson would be able to do both football and wrestling at UW-Madison.

With a player like him only coming around once in a blue moon, it’s hard to predict what Johnson will decide at a collegiate level, but considering his talent on the mats, wrestling seems very likely to be his priority. That being said, the football team has shown interest in two-sport athletes, offering four-star wide receiver Daniel Freitag earlier this month, who’s also been offered by Greg Gard and his basketball staff.

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

Former Badger QB off to strong start with new team

Graham Mertz, the Badgers starting quarterback from 2020-2022, is reportedly off to a strong start with Florida this spring.

Graham Mertz, the Badgers starting quarterback from 2020-2022, is reportedly off to a strong start with Florida this spring. The Kansas native transferred to Gainesville this offseason and is battling for the starting job.

Head coach Billy Napier believes the 32 games Mertz started with Wisconsin have given him invaluable experience, something Ohio State transfer Jack Miller doesn’t have. Both men are among those competing to be the signal-caller for Florida in 2023, replacing NFL draft prospect Anthony Richardson under center.

With Mertz gone from Madison, the Badgers will likely roll with former four-star recruit and SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai as their play-caller in 2023. Since Luke Fickell has taken over at head coach, he’s brought along some talented transfers as has offensive coordinator Phil Longo and his “Air Raid” offense.

For Mertz, he is looking to regain some of the mojo he had coming out of high school. As a four-star recruit, he ranked as the highest-rated QB commitment in Badger history. He threw for 2,136 yards and 19 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 2022 with Wisconsin.

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

Wisconsin offers four-star defensive lineman from Texas

The Badgers offered Lance Jackson, a four-star class of 2025 defensive lineman from Texarkana, Texas on Wednesday.

The Badgers offered Lance Jackson, a four-star class of 2025 defensive lineman from Texarkana, Texas on Wednesday. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound athlete still has two more seasons of football at Pleasant Grove High School before he’d make the jump to a college program.

Jackson has now received 16 Division 1 offers, with Wisconsin joining the Notre Dame as the second program to offer him from within the Midwest. Home state schools like Texas Tech, SMU, North Texas and UTSA have already offered him, with Texas likely soon to follow.

With Luke Fickell now at the helm as head coach and defensive coordinator Mike Tressel joining him from Cincinnati, the Badgers may be as strong of a recruit destination as ever moving forward and could have a legitimate shot at Jackson in 2025.

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

Badgers offer 6-foot-4 class of 2025 tight end from Georgia

Wisconsin offered Logan Brooking, a 6-foot-4 class of 2025 tight end from Savannah, Georgia on Wednesday.

Wisconsin offered Logan Brooking, a 6-foot-4 class of 2025 tight end from Savannah, Georgia on Wednesday. As a sophomore in high school, he still has two more years before he’d make potentially make the leap to the collegiate level.

Brooking has now received nine Division 1 offers, with the Badgers joining Michigan State in offering him from within the Big Ten. Considering the historical lack of supreme talent at the tight end position for Wisconsin, it appears head coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo along with the scouting staff are trying to change that narrative.

They’ve offered many tight ends in recent months as well as securing the commitments of four-star Grant Stec (Algonquin, Illinois) and three-star Robert Booker (Waunakee, Wisconsin) at the position for the class of 2024.

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

 

WATCH: Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell is mic’d up at Badgers’ spring practice

Watch Wisconsin football head coach Luke Fickell mic’d up at spring practice:

On Wednesday night, Wisconsin football released the last installment of their (W)ired series on Twitter featuring new Badgers’ head coach Luke Fickell in spring practice.

Related: WATCH: Wisconsin football releases hype tape after first day of spring practice

It is great to get more access inside the Badgers’ spring practices than in years past with excellent coverage from their social media team. Fickell can be seen throughout the video actively coaching and encouraging players, while also cracking a few jokes, including a funny conversation with brothers Jack and Barrett Nelson.

Luke Fickell is implementing a big culture shift at Wisconsin and it is exciting to get a front-row seat. Hopefully, the Badgers’ social media team can continue this series following their journey with other coaches like offensive coordinator Phil Longo or defensive coordinator Mike Tressel.

Wisconsin offers three-star offensive lineman from Texas

The Badgers offered Makai Saina, a three-star interior offensive lineman from Arlington, Texas on Friday.

The Badgers offered Makai Saina, a three-star interior offensive lineman from Arlington, Texas on Friday. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound athlete still has one more season of football at Martin High School before he’d potentially make the jump to a college program.

Saina has now received 24 Division 1 offers, including three from within the Big Ten (Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin) and one from a future Big Ten school in USC. The Badgers have been one of the most talked about programs since acquiring Luke Fickell at head coach and recruits have certainly taken notice.

To this point, four-star quarterback Mabrey Mettauer (The Woodlands, Texas) and two tight ends, Grant Stec (Algonquin, Illinois) and Robert Booker (Waunakee, Wisconsin) have committed to Wisconsin for the class of 2024.

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

Badgers offer class of 2024 safety from Florida

Wisconsin offered Isaiah Thomas, a 6-foot-2 class of 2024 safety from Clearwater, Florida on Monday.ย 

Wisconsin offered Isaiah Thomas, a 6-foot-2 class of 2024 safety from Clearwater, Florida on Monday. The junior still has one more season of football at Clearwater Academy International before he’d potentially make the leap to a collegiate program.

Thomas has now received 27 Division 1 offers, including home state options Florida State and Florida, where he would typically favor. That being said, with the addition of Luke Fickell at head coach and Mike Tressel at defensive coordinator, Wisconsin has become a more attractive location for defensive recruits.

As of right now, the Badgers have only secured three class of 2024 commitments, all of which are on the offensive side. Four-star quarterback Mabrey Mettauer (The Woodlands, Texas), four-star tight end Grant Stec (Algonquin, Illinois) and three-star tight end Robert Booker (Waunakee, Wisconsin).

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

Reminder: Badger football launch in one month

In exactly one month, the Badger football team will launch the start of their 2023 campaign, taking the field at Camp Randall for practice.

The Badger Football team will have their spring launch exactly one month from Wednesday. On April 22, the Wisconsin coaches and players will take the field at Camp Randall for their first practice of the year.

Fans will be able to come out and watch as the first full season of new head coach Luke Fickell gets underway. Additions like quarterback Tanner Mordecai and wide receiver CJ Williams will be in action while returning fan-favorites like running back Braelon Allen and linebacker Jordan Turner lace them up.

There has never been an offseason quite like this one for the Badgers and many can’t wait to see what the team brings in 2023.

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