Iβm a firm believer in what the word βpotentialβ means.
β¦ainβt done shit yet.
Yup, go back and look at our hot takes about Chryst, Mertz etc.
I wait for the games to play out.
Nobody is claiming this will be an instant star but when you're top QB is Chase Wolf the bar is quite low. That makes Mettauer and Evers worth getting optimistic about along with what will be a QB friendly offense.
Is Wolf coming back?
I don't think he's declared. He's probably waiting to see where Armstrong lands.
The reason Chryst got fired is he never addressed the recruiting issue once their top guy left for Michigan State. The reason JL didnβt get the head coach job is he wasnβt effective bringing in higher ranked guys and his offensive identity was the same crap that will never beat the Ohio Stateβs or Michiganβs or Penn Stateβs or USCβs of college football.
Fickell brought in an OC (Longo) and QB coach that have a track record of recruiting and developing QBs and skill players. If they can duplicate some of the success they had an UNC the sky is the limit. McIntosh has the chancellor on board so they will be upgrading facilities and will actually pay their assistants and not be dead last in conference on those spending areas (along w/recruiting budget).
Thereβs a lot to be excited about right now. If the ceiling is 8 wins and losing to teams like Minnesota and Iowa and Northwestern on a routine basis then PC and JL are perfect for the program. Thank God the AD has higher expectations for whatβs possible.
JL had no history of assembling a coaching staff and likely would have kept most of the same staff. That meant more of the same including recruiting. The program will get a much needed identity change. 2nd and 7 is no longer a running down.
The happiest guy on the team is probably Braelon Allen. Instead of facing 8 or 9 guys in the box he should get some favorable matchups as defenses will have to honor a passing game and mobile QB.
By the way, things could be a lot worse. You could be a Minnesoduh fan following and listening to that idot Fleck accuse Fickell and UW staff of negative recruitment tactics.
Fickell has been on the job for a month and heβs already living rent free in PJs head.
Tanner Mordecai from all reports Iβm seeing is likely to transfer to Wisconsin. πππ π¨ π¨
β πππ§ππ£π ππ ππ‘π π£π₯π€ (@TavernWISports) December 30, 2022
pic.twitter.com/xDO2CTkhKx
A preview of what Wisconsin would be getting if they can officially land Tanner Mordecai pic.twitter.com/LV8UDJRxsK
β IKE Badgers Podcast (@IKE_Badgers) December 30, 2022
Graham Mertz Tanner Mordecai
β JamesInSix (Depressed Bucks Fan) (@_JamesInSix) December 30, 2022
Last 2 Seasons Last 2 Seasons
29 TD 21 INT 72 TD 22 INT
4094 Yards 7152 Yards
Tanner is βexpected to land at #Wisconsinβ ~@ESPNRittenberg pic.twitter.com/7UANeCyHHT
wow.
Thanks coach Fick
Now do wide receivers
Not bad. He just entered the portal this afternoon. He's exactly what the Badgers need for one season.
BREAKING: Boston College defensive back transfer Jason Maitre has committed to the #Badgers.
β Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) December 30, 2022
Maitre has 30 career starts under his belt. Grad transfer with one year of eligibility.https://t.co/0px33Wn2T6 pic.twitter.com/LUstDg7zQJ
#OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/f70br8h9ET
β Tanner Mordecai (@t_mordecai) December 30, 2022
Mordecai is another legit QB but unlike Evers heβs proven it the last couple of seasons. He can literally step in day 1 and play for this team.
Seems like the perfect bridge scenario. Mordecai takes the job this (his final) year and Evers will get plenty of time to develop and compete for the job in 2024.
Itβs remarkable how Fickell and the staff have taken 2 of the 3 historic areas of weakness areas (QB and DB) and transformed them in a manner of weeks to arguably a position of strength.
In true Wisconsin fan form, lots of consternation this will lead to someone backing out of a commitment.
Texas connection!
β nicco (@NickEvers12) December 30, 2022
Welcome big bro! @t_mordecai https://t.co/803nVmDQ1X
congrats my guy π€
β nicco (@NickEvers12) December 25, 2022
Itβs entirely possible Mettauer may change his mind especially if other teams start to take notice (if they havenβt already). Since heβs still got another year of HS to play, Iβm sure some other big time programs will ramp up their interest level if he continues to play well.
Whatβs interesting is I wouldnβt count out Cole LaCrue despite guys like Evers and now Mordecai in the fold. Dude has a ton of moxie and confidence and a massive chip on his shoulder not being pursued as much as some other big time prospects. Heβs also enrolled at UW so will be able to participate in workouts and spring practices.
Anyone that proclaims he canβt wait to see UW kick Ohio Stateβs ass is OK with me. Love that swagger instead of a guy like Mertz smiling and yucking it up on the sideline while the Badgers were getting boat raced in Columbus.
I agree Fickell fortified two areas that are traditionally weak. I expect him to shop for a couple TEs in the portal next. It's crazy how this transfer portal has become just a wide open free agency. I never realized so many players were dissatisfied with their original commitments.
@PackerRick posted:I agree Fickell fortified two areas that are traditionally weak. I expect him to shop for a couple TEs in the portal next. It's crazy how this transfer portal has become just a wide open free agency. I never realized so many players were dissatisfied with their original commitments.
I blew out my back this morning so I am watching the pregame shows. They just had a feature on Max Duggan from TCU. He was a 3 year starter, got benched and came into his senior year as the number 2. He fought his way back to become the starter, end the season as runner up for the Heisman and is playing today.
There is a lot to be said for perseverance and commitment (schools too). There is a lot to learn from getting knocked down and sticking with it.
Im sure there is something to be learned in bailing out too.
I know itβs early, but what I like about Fickell and Longo is theyβve made an impression with these kids and they believe in their vision and philosophy. So it feels to me itβs less about someone being overlooked or dissatisfied as they think Fickell and staff can elevate their skills and abilities and not burn the place down in the process.
Of course, it also helps that Longo was involved in developing Drake Maye into what may me the 1st overall pick and Fickellβs Cincinnati teams churned out some decent NFL prospects.
Having 2 players in the portal decide to return was a telling point with me that he could connect with players quickly. When you consider all of the controversy the Badgers went through, and looking through the portal and seeing how many defections other school have taken, the Badgers didn't lose anything. Mertz was replaced in a big way and losing a 3rd string RB, a reserve DB, and TE that never played will go unnoticed. Recruiting is on another level now.
I don't fully understand the transfer portal. If a player enters the portal is he forfeiting his scholarship immediately or does he have a certain amount of time to return if he wishes? Schools only have a certain number of scholarships so they can't have 10 guys undecided in the portal locking up a scholarship the school might need for another recruit. I know some guys return but is it only because they are offered to come back by the school they left?
once you enter the portal, you give up your scholarship (at the discretion of the home school). The original school can keep the scholarship, reduce it, or pull it. They can re-offer, but they don't have too
Letβs do it @BadgerFootball @CoachFick @PatLambert13 pic.twitter.com/Yyuve0188a
β Darian Varner (@DarianVarner) January 5, 2023
nice
Jump Around! π
β Quincy Burroughs Β³ (@IamQB3) January 6, 2023
Could this be another transfer? Big big big guy.
I wonder how many Twitter followers I would have had back in the day when I was warming the bench at UWM.
1 Your mom.
My Mom wasnβt much of a fan of mine. π
@Blair Kiel posted:I wonder how many Twitter followers I would have had back in the day when I was warming the bench at UWM.
Forget twitter, think of the NIL money.
Mom again. $1 weekly allowance.
@ammo posted:1 Your mom.
Doubtful! She was a good judge of tallant.
She was a perfect 70βs soccer parentβ¦sat there and clapped not knowing what the hell was going on.
Now we have the fucking Reyna family.
She didnβt blackmail your coach? Poor parenting.
The Badgers are staying active in the portal. They've added an OL and DL plus they have 2-3 WRs they are close to getting. I really like the direction the program is headed and happy McIntosh basically did a reboot.
DEVELOPING: Wisconsin is fresh off of hosting former Mississippi State and Rockwall (Texas) 4 βοΈ QB Braedyn Locke for an official visit to Madison this past weekend.
β Nick Harris (@RivalsNick) January 9, 2023
Can the Badgers work more portal magic at QB?
The latest for @Rivals & @Badger_Blitz: https://t.co/thcXlk5kDk pic.twitter.com/fa5aEcfsSZ
QB's? What do you mean you want every one?
#OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/bKBjT4wJik
β Jeff Pietrowski Jr (@Jptrow47) January 9, 2023
#OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/6kdESDjxu2
β Joe Huber (@JoeHuber14) January 7, 2023
Bradedyn Locke, another former 4 star, will transfer to Wisconsin from Mississippi state.
I like Fickellβs quantity and quality philosophy