MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin’s win over Western Illinois is in the books, and Luke Fickell spent Monday’s weekly press conference zooming in on the pieces he thinks are moving the Badgers in the right direction as they head into week three and the Eastern Michigan game.
One of the clearest themes from Fickell’s session was the work Bradie Ewing has done inside the program. Fickell credited him for stepping into the role and making it his own, especially by reaching across different eras of Wisconsin football and helping former players stay connected. He said Ewing has even pulled him into Zoom calls with former players every few weeks, with those meetings growing from around 40 people to 70 or 80 and then to more than 100.
Fickell also pointed to DeNigel Cooper as a player who has already changed the look of Wisconsin’s defensive line. He said Cooper played hard at App State, but came in smaller than ideal and has spent the offseason putting himself in position to handle the physical demands up front. Fickell contrasted Cooper with some of the other bodies in the room, including Perk, Junior and DeNigel, noting that Cooper brings a different twitch, snap and pace.
At quarterback, Fickell addressed Colton Joseph’s health and what last week looked like after a shorter week of preparation. He said the staff did not think the issue would be a problem last week, but the schedule meant Joseph was a little behind early in the week. Fickell added that the team will get a better feel for things once it gets on the field Tuesday, while stressing that Wisconsin is not trying to push players through injuries.
He also noted the reality of getting a quarterback back into live action after a long layoff. “And, I think him getting back, you know, it's been 9-10 months since he's been hit.
So, that is just sometimes the nature of the game, that you don't hit quarterbacks outside of the year. Then, you open up week one, and there is no chance you're going to get out of that game without taking a hit.”
Fickell spent a good chunk of the press conference on the offensive line, and he sounded encouraged by what he sees. He said he likes where the group is and believes there are signs of something Wisconsin may not have had before. He singled out Kevin Heywood, Colin Cubberly and Stylz for the progress they’ve made, and called Austin the center point of the offense because of the responsibility he carries in the middle.
He also said PJ needs to be pushed more, but added that the unit has not lacked physicality. Fickell pointed to the second offensive line group that came in late in the game and said the culture was visible there too. He even referenced the 72-yard first play, saying it could have been a six- or seven-yard gain if the runner had stayed inside, but he still liked the way the play finished.
Emerson Mandell remains one of the injury situations to watch. Fickell said he wants a better update and that Wisconsin will keep pushing this week to see if Mandell can get back into the mix. The plan, he said, was to start working him in now and carry that into Big Ten play, but the exact timeline is still uncertain.
From the broader notes coming out of Monday, Cooper remains a player worth watching because of how quickly he may be able to help the defensive line. On the offensive side, run blocking stood out as a real strength, and Fickell’s breakdown of the top unit made it clear he feels the group is trending in a good direction. With player interviews set for Tuesday, there should be more to sort through before Wisconsin turns fully toward Eastern Michigan.
In Other News...
Wisconsins Coaching Reset Is Back In Focus After Long-Awaited Comments
Nearly four years after Wisconsin moved on from Paul Chryst and hired Luke Fickell instead of interim coach Jim Leonhard, the coaching reset that changed the programs direction is back in view. Chryst and Leonhard have now both spoken publicly about the abrupt transition, offering the clearest look yet at how each man viewed one of the biggest decisions Wisconsin has made in recent years.
Chryst said he did not agree with being fired, but he still backed Leonhard as the right successor. Leonhard, meanwhile, said he expected to remain at Wisconsin and was surprised when the school went with Fickell instead. Since then, Leonhard has moved into NFL coaching and was recently hired as the Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator, while Chryst has stayed largely out of the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins Defense Has An Early Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Through two games, Wisconsins defense has looked like a unit still searching for its edge under fourth-year coordinator Mike Tressel. There were encouraging stretches, especially in the first half against Notre Dame, but the group also showed signs of fading after halftime and had trouble containing the mobile quarterback from Western Illinois. For a defense that spent the offseason emphasizing turnovers, the early returns have been more about effort than payoff.
The bigger concern is what has not happened yet. Wisconsin still has not come away with an interception or a forced fumble, and coaches and players have acknowledged the need to bring more physicality and pressure if they want to change that trend. In a conference race where hidden yardage and sudden momentum swings can matter, those takeaway chances are the sort of detail the Badgers cannot afford to keep leaving on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Still Has One Tough Recruiting Battle That Could Define Fickell
Luke Fickells staff has done real work in Arizona, and Desert Edge High School has become a notable foothold for Wisconsin as it tries to widen its recruiting map. The Badgers already have two three-star commitments from that school in the 2027 class, a small but meaningful sign that the program can still win prospects far from Madison when it builds the right relationships.
The next test is far bigger. Wisconsin is still in the mix for five-star edge rusher Jalanie George in the 2028 class, but the competition around him will not be simple, especially with the Badgers trying to sell both on-field momentum and the resources behind the program. Even so, the fact that George has teammates headed to Wisconsin, along with facility upgrades, keeps the door open in a battle that could say plenty about where Fickell can take this recruiting operation. [Read more 🡒]