Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell reflects on year one with the Badgers, changes for year two

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell was a center of focus at Big Ten media days this week in Indianapolis, Indiana.

He still carries the air as one of the top up-and-coming coaches in college football. He also currently leads a brand in Wisconsin that has been a staple toward the top of the Big Ten for the last 30 years, though has slipped significantly in recent seasons. Fickell and the Badgers’ trajectory entering 2024 is a significant discussion point around Big Ten circles as the conference expands to 18 members.

The decorated head coach joined Big Ten radio on SiriusXM during media days earlier this week and reflected on his first year with the Badgers — a 7-6 season that fell short of every expectation.

“In year one you think you know. And I was reminded when I got into Week 3, 4, 5 that you really don’t know,” Fickell said. “I don’t know that I could’ve done a whole lot of things different. To create adversity to find out what you really have to see how guys within your program handle things, it’s unique. If there was one think I’d go back on, we didn’t go live nearly as much last year. So I didn’t know some of the deficiencies maybe we had athletically, tackling-wise defensively. Otherwise, all of the things that came out were because of adversity.”

Fickell’s reflection comes after Wisconsin remade its entire linebacker room via the transfer portal this offseason. New additions ILB Jaheim Thomas (Arkansas), ILB Tackett Curtis (USC), ILB Sebastian Cheeks (North Carolina), OLB John Pius (William & Mary) and OLB Leon Lowery (Syracuse) are expected to provide major contributions beside returning starters ILB Jake Chaney, OLB Darryl Peterson and others.

The new-look room expects to be a significant improvement upon 2023’s group. That inside linebacker starting unit from 2023 included Jordan Turner and Maema Njongmeta, players who are gone to Michigan State and the NFL respectively.

Despite Fickell’s comment, defense was not the problem for the 2023 Badgers. The group finished the season ranked No. 21 in the nation in scoring defense and No. 7 in ESPN’s SP+.

Wisconsin’s 7-6 record came mostly thanks to Phil Longo’s new air raid offense scoring only 23.5 points per game, ranked No. 93 of 133 programs in the sport. It fell far below the expectations and headlines entering the season.

Now, the Badgers did bolster the unit via the portal this offseason, headlined by the additions of former Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke, Oklahoma RB Tawee Walker, Boston College WR Joseph Griffin Jr. and Michigan State WR Tyrell Henry.

Longo’s offense will be the key to Wisconsin improving upon its 7-6 record from 2023 — much more so than Fickell and DC Mike Tressel’s defense.

The Badgers start their quest for a statement season on Aug. 30 when Western Michigan visits Camp Randall Stadium.

Fickell’s comments point toward some differences in this year’s training camp, and a thought process behind some of the team’s transfer moves this offseason.

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