Tag: Mike Tressel

LOOK: Badgers coach turns 50

Special day for coach Fickell

Luke Fickell is entering his first full season as the head coach of the Badgers football team, but Thursday is special for another reason, it’s his 50th birthday.

Coming to Madison last November, Fickell has brought a great amount of optimism and intrigue to Wisconsin football moving forward. The head coach is coming off of a six-year tenure in charge of Cincinnati where he produced a 57-18 overall record.

He’s brought defensive coordinator Mike Tressel over from the Bearcats with him while also reeling in offensive coordinator Phil Longo and his “Air Raid” scheme from North Carolina.

Many believe that the Luke Fickell era in Madison will be a special one and the team is now 15 days away from their season opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall.

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Badger Countdown: Two transfer athletes set to wear number 19 in 2023

Two new Badgers in number 19 this year

The 2023 college football season is almost here and the Badgers are now 19 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. There will be two new Wisconsin athletes wearing the number 19 this year.

After two seasons with Cincinnati, wide receiver Will Pauling followed his head coach Luke Fickell to Madison. Over his two campaigns with the Bearcats, Pauling recorded 13 catches for 128 yards while appearing in 10 total games.

Now with Wisconsin, Pauling will look to carve out a more significant role in Phil Longo’s “Air Raid” offense.

The other athlete donning 19 on their jersey this year is defensive lineman Darian Varner. Varner transferred to Wisconsin after three years with Temple, recording 57 tackles, including 10.5 sacks, over 21 games during his two active seasons.

He’ll look to help replace the production of linebacker Nick Herbig and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton, amongst others in Mike Tressel’s defense this year.

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Badger Countdown: Wisconsin D holds opponents to 20 PPG in 2022

Can the defense repeat their success in 2023?

The 2023 college football season is almost on us and the Badgers are now 20 days from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2 at home. With Luke Fickell taking over, many have wondered if Wisconsin’s identity will change and in turn, if their defense will remain as good following Jim Leonhard’s departure.

Wisconsin’s defense allowed 20.2 points per game last season, ranking 17th in the entire nation. That was with defensive coordinator and eventual interim head coach Jim Leonhard at the helm.

Now with Fickell and defensive coordinator Mike Tressel coming over from Cincinnati, they’ll have to maintain the team’s defensive reputation. The two men produced some very strong results with the Bearcats and in 2022, their defense allowed 20.6 points per game.

With players like Maema Njongmeta and Jordan Turner leading the defense in Madison, they should have no trouble continuing their success in 2023.

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Badger Countdown: Number 24 set for breakout season in secondary

This Badger could be in for a big year

The 2023 college football season is quickly approaching and the Badgers are now 24 days away from their opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. Coming off of an injury-riddled campaign in 2022, safety Hunter Wohler (number 24) could be set for a breakout year in Madison.

Wohler appeared in six games last year, recording 21 total tackles and an interception while on the field. Now healthy, the safety has impressed throughout the spring, intercepting the Badgers’ quarterbacks and registering powerful hits at practice.

Operating in Luke Fickell and Mike Tressel’s defensive scheme, Wohler could be the next star they produce in the secondary. In the past, they’ve worked with both cornerbacks Sauce Gardner (NYJ) and Coby Bryant (SEA).

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WATCH: Big Ten analyst has Badgers linebacker in his top 30

Badgers linebacker is considered one of the best overall athletes in the Big Ten

The official start of the Luke Fickell era is closing in and one of his defensive athletes was ranked in the top 30 Big Ten players by analyst Jake Butt. The former Michigan tight end has linebacker Maema Njongmeta as his 24th ranked overall athlete in the conference.

Njongmeta led Wisconsin with 95 total tackles, including 3.5 sacks, over 13 contests in 2022. He’s expected to be one of their defensive leaders again this year in a new scheme under Mike Tressel.

The linebacker is currently sidelined following surgery on his right hand, but he’s expected to be back at practice soon.

Njongmeta and the Badgers are set to start their 2023 campaign Sept. 2 at home against Buffalo.

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WATCH: Badger linebacker outlines a day at camp

Behind the scenes at Badger football camp

Luke Fickell and his Badgers just wrapped up their time at Platteville for their camp ahead of the 2023 season, but linebacker T.J Bollers outlined a day in the life of a Wisconsin football athlete at camp.

Bollers is entering his third season with the Badgers, second active, and he could be set for an increased role on defense. He appeared in 11 games last year, but he only recorded two tackles.

With Nick Herbig moving on to the NFL, Bollers along with fellow redshirt sophomore Darryl Peterson appear likely to operate as the top left outside linebacker options in Madison.

Mike Tressel will be in control of the defense in 2023 and the team will look to maintain their reputation as one of the best in the nation.

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LOOK: How to follow all the football coaches on X

The 2023 CFB season is one that many Badger fans are on the edge of their seat for, awaiting the start of the Luke Fickell era in Madison.

The 2023 college football season is one that many Badger fans are on the edge of their seat for as they await the start of the Luke Fickell era in Madison. Along with Fickell, many more coaches joined him in Madison and here’s how you follow them on X (formerly known as Twitter).

One of the more interesting coaching changes is at offensive coordinator Phil Longo (North Carolina) bringing his “Air Raid” offense to Madison. Longo has worked with NFL-caliber quarterbacks Sam Howell (now with the Commanders) and Drake Maye (expected to be early round selection in 2024), so there are high expectations for him and SMU-transfer Tanner Mordecai at Wisconsin in 2023.

On defense, Jim Leonhard is no longer with the team and Mike Tressel (Cincinnati) will be replacing him. Tressel’s defense at Cincinnati was amongst the best in the nation and he’s expected to maintain Wisconsin’s defensive identity.

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Badger Countdown: Returning linebacker records 37 solo tackles in 2022

The 2023 CFB season continues to get closer and the Badgers are now 37 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The 2023 college football season continues to get closer and Luke Fickell and his Badgers are now 37 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. In 2022, a redshirt sophomore linebacker recorded 37 solo tackles, good for second on the team.

Jordan Turner is the linebacker who made the tackles and he is back for a redshirt junior campaign this season. Overall, Turner compiled 65 total tackles, including two sacks, while also intercepting a pass, deflecting another and forcing a fumble over 13 contests.

Additionally, Turner earned the Guaranteed Rate Bowl defensive MVP award in December when the Badgers defeated Oklahoma State 24-17. The linebacker recorded eight tackles (four solo) in the contest.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound athlete was suspended by the team for a driving incident in late June, but he was reinstated a couple weeks later. Turner appears likely to be a leader on Wisconsin’s defense in year one under new defensive coordinator Mike Tressel.

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WATCH: Badgers ranked in top 15 by former national champion QB

The 2023 Badger football team is one of the most intriguing in the history of the program with new head coach Luke Fickell at the helm.

The 2023 Badger football team is one of the most intriguing in the history of the program. With new head coach Luke Fickell at the helm, the hype around Wisconsin is potentially at an all-time high.

While ranking his top 25 college football teams, former Alabama quarterback and national champion Greg McElroy placed Wisconsin as the 14th best team in the country.

McElroy highlighted the additions of offensive coordinator Phil Longo, formerly with North Carolina, and SMU transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai as reasons why the Badgers will succeed in 2023.

Longo’s “Air Raid” offense is expected to open up the Badgers’ ability to produce in the passing game while also freeing up the run game to churn out more consistent yardage.

Additionally, McElroy expects Fickell and new defensive coordinator Mike Tressel’s 3-3-5 scheme from Cincinnati to transition well to Madison.

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Badger Countdown: No. 55 back for final season in Madison

College football fans are on the edge of their seats as the season closes in and the Badgers are now 55 days away from their 2023 opener.

College football fans are on the edge of their seats as the season closes in and the Badgers are now 55 days away from their 2023 opener versus Buffalo. With Luke Fickell entering his first year as head coach, there has been a lot of turnover in Madison, but the team’s leading tackler has returned for one more season as a graduate student.

Maema Njongmeta, number 55 for the Badgers, led the team in tackles in 2022, registering 95 takedowns, including 3.5 sacks, over 13 games. Additionally, Njongmeta was rated as the highest returning linebacker in the Big Ten by Pro Football Focus.

Operating in a defensive system under defensive Mike Tressel (Cincinnati) in 2023, Wisconsin’s defense is expected to remain near the top in the nation and Njongmeta is set to be the unit’s leader.

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