Tag: Mike Tressel

Three-star defensive tackle recommits to Wisconsin

Jamel Howard Jr., a class of 2023 three-star defensive tackle from Chicago, Illinois recommitted to the Badgers on Wednesday.

Jamel Howard Jr., a three-star defensive tackle from Chicago, Illinois recommitted to the Badgers on Wednesday. The class of 2023 athlete was originally committed to Wisconsin before withdrawing it in November, but he will now be a part of new defensive coordinator Mike Tressel’s defense next season.

The 6-foot-3, 320 pound defensive lineman will offer Wisconsin another option on the interior as they look to replace Keeanu Benton in 2023 as he makes the leap to the NFL this year. Howard Jr. will join transfer Darian Varner (Temple) amongst others as a part of the incoming class for the Badgers defense.

Since Luke Fickell took over at head coach, almost all of the hype has been around the offensive side of the ball, but Wednesday’s news is certainly a win for the flip side.

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Wisconsin offers three-star in-state linebacker

The Badgers offered Landon Gauthier, a class of 2024 three-star linebacker from Green Bay on Saturday.

The Badgers offered Landon Gauthier, a three-star linebacker from Green Bay on Saturday. The class of 2024 athlete still has one more season of high school football at Bay Port, but his 6-foot-3, 220 pound frame should transition well to the collegiate level.

So far, the linebacker has received six Division 1 offers, but Wisconsin is likely one of the favorites considering he’s an in-state option. With Mike Tressel taking over the defense in 2023, Wisconsin will remain an attractive location for defensive players even though Jim Leonhard is gone.

To this point, the Badgers have received two commitments for the class of 2024, four-star quarterback Mabrey Mettauer (The Woodlands, Texas) and four-star tight end Grant Stec (Algonquin, Illinois).

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Badgers offer four-star athlete from Detroit for class of 2025

The Badgers offered Alex Graham, a class of 2025 four-star athlete from Detroit on Friday.

Wisconsin offered Alex Graham, a four-star athlete from the class of 2025 on Friday. Graham is a 6-foot-1 sophomore at Cass Technical in Detroit, Michigan and has experience playing cornerback, safety and wide receiver.

Graham still has approximately two years before making a decision on where he wants to play collegiate football, but the athlete has already received 11 Division 1 offers. With in-state powerhouse Michigan amongst those that have offered, the Badgers have their work cut out for them to obtain his commitment.

Wisconsin has quickly become a top destination for talent in the country with the addition of Luke Fickell at head coach, Phil Longo at offensive coordinator and Mike Tressel coaching the defense. As a result of those three, the Badgers have brought in over a dozen transfers this offseason on top of increasing the amount of high schoolers interested in joining the program.

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Linebacker from class of 2025 gets offer from Wisconsin

Anthony Sacca, a class of 2025 four-star linebacker from Philadelphia received an offer to play football for the Badgers on Friday.

Anthony Sacca, a four-star linebacker from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania received an offer from the Badgers on Friday. The 6-foot-4, 220 pound athlete has experience playing safety as well and still has two more years to round into form with St. Joseph’s Prep School before making the leap to collegiate football.

To this point, Sacca has received 17 offers from Division 1 programs and both Penn State and Michigan are amongst the Big Ten teams with ties to the athlete. For Wisconsin, the sophomore is one of many players the team has offered for 2025, including four-star wide receiver Dorian Brew.

The Badgers’ head coach Luke Fickell has been aggressive in his approach to acquiring talent since joining the program in November and Sacca could be a piece for new defensive coordinator Mike Tressel in 2025.

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Report: Linebacker Goetz returning in 2023

C.J. Goetz is expected to return and play for the Badgers in 2023 after finishing third on the team in tackles this season.

With Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton and John Torchio heading to the NFL after the conclusion of the Badgers’ 2022 campaign, the Badgers’ defense will look much different in 2023, but the team will retain a key starter in linebacker C.J. Goetz next season. The Muskego native will exercise an additional year of eligibility with Wisconsin and will likely operate in a leadership role on Mike Tressel’s defense.

Goetz played in all 13 of the Badgers’ games this season, recording 62 tackles, including two sacks, while also deflecting two passes over those contests.

Along with Jordan Turner and Maema Njongmeta, the return of Goetz in 2023 will provide Wisconsin with each of their top three tackle-getters from this campaign once again next year.

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Report: Badgers hiring new special teams coordinator

Wisconsin is hiring another coach Sunday, bringing in Mike Mitchell to lead their special teams unit and outside linebackers in 2023.

The Badgers are hiring Grand Valley State head coach Matt Mitchell as their next special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach. Mitchell has produced a 117-31 overall record as the head coach of the Lakers, finishing just one win short the program’s all-time leader Brian Kelly (118 wins).

Mitchell played collegiate football at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, earning First-Team All-Midwest honors twice during his career with the program as a defensive lineman. He graduated from the college in 1997 and quickly launched a coaching career a few years later.

The former player started as a defensive coach with Wartburg College in 2000 before joining the Grand Valley State coaching staff in 2003. Over nearly two decades with the team, Mitchell worked his way from linebackers coach (2004-2007) to defensive coordinator (2008-2009) before spending a dozen seasons as the head coach of the Lakers (2010-2022).

Mitchell will be reuniting with Wisconsin’s new defensive coordinator Mike Tressel, who he coached alongside with at Wartburg in the early 2000’s.

Luke Fickell and the Badgers’ program will certainly benefit from bringing in such an experienced coach to lead their specials teams unit and outside linebackers in 2023.

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Former MSU football DC wins coach of the year award

A former longtime MSU coordinator has won assistant coach of the year honors

Mike Tressel is known to many Spartans fans for his contributions to the Michigan State football program. Tressel was on staff at Michigan State from 2007 until 2020. He served as a linebackers coach and special teams coordinator from 2007-2014 and as defensive coordinator from 2015-2019 on Mark Dantonio’s staff.

When the coaching change was made, Mel Tucker retained Tressel as the safeties coach, but Tressel decided to depart East Lansing for the defensive coordinator job at Cincinnati.

Now, Tressel is continuing his strong performance as a defensive coordinator, and he has earned honors for his work.

Tressel is the 2022 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

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Five potential names to consider for defensive coordinator

Could one of these coordinators get the call from Brian Kelly?

The clock is ticking on Brian Kelly to finalize his staff and get to work on the 2022 recruiting class and beyond.

The names we heard for both offensive and defensive coordinators both decided to stay in South Bend with the Fighting Irish. This isn’t unheard of, when Nick Saban left for LSU none of his coordinators followed him to Baton Rouge. I think he did alright for himself.

The names outside of Marcus Freeman that will be discussed at defensive coordinator include current Texas A&M DC Mike Elko. He has a history with Brian Kelly from his time at Notre Dame. It might be a long shot to see him leave the Aggies but as we know, money talks.

Here are five names to consider.

Former Michigan State LB Devin Hightower to reunite with former DC Mike Tressel in Cincinnati

Devin Hightower will reunite with former Michigan State defensive coordinator Mike Tressel in Cincinnati.

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A few weeks back, Michigan State football 2020 recruit Devin Hightower entered the NCAA transfer portal. On Monday, he announced his new home: Cincinnati. Hightower will reunite with former MSU defensive coordinator Mike Tressel, who is now the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Cincinnati.

Hightower only played special teams snaps last year under Mel Tucker. The former three-star recruit out of Twinsburg, Ohio was the sixth member of the 2020 recruiting class to enter the portal as Mel Tucker continues to put his own stamp on the roster.

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Mel Tucker: Tressel is heading to Cincy, looking to hire replacement by ‘this weekend’

Mel Tucker has confirmed reports from earlier this week that longtime assistant coach Mike Tressel is leaving the program.

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Michigan State football head coach Mel Tucker has confirmed reports from earlier this week that longtime assistant coach Mike Tressel is leaving the program to become the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati.

Tucker made this announcement on Thursday afternoon during the AD Lunch Series, according to Matt Wenzel of MLive. Tucker also pointed out that a replacement for Tressel — who coached safeties this past season — should be “wrapped up by this weekend.”

Tressel came to Michigan State with former Spartans’ head coach Mark Dantonio in 2007, and has been with the program ever since. He has held numerous roles, previously also serving as defensive coordinator.

Tressel was one of the few Dantonio assistant coaches that remained on staff after Tucker took over last year.

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