CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: 847badgerfan on January 04, 2024, 02:45:03 PM
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May as well get it started. 2023 is over.
There is a new WR coach coming but has not been officially announced by UW yet. From what others say, it's Kenny Guiton.
Kenny Guiton | Arkansas Razorbacks (https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/coache/kenny-guiton/)
There was some thought that the OL coach might be out too. No official word and not many rumblings.
Lots of transfer activity. The LB room is being re-made.
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Like this new linebacker from Arkansas
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Love this hire, for many reasons.
(https://i.imgur.com/FHbnAvc.png)
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Gonna run air raid
Gotta coach the kids to catch instead of block
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Or least learn how to trip
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This hurts really really bad. By far the best recruiter on the team. F you, Bama.
(https://i.imgur.com/5Y7JFCs.png)
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This could be a great hire for Fickell. Lots of experience in the B1G and former Iowa OL player.
Wisconsin Athletic Communications Department
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin football officially announced the hiring of new offensive line coach AJ Blazek (https://247sports.com/Coach/aj-blazek-3725) on Wednesday afternoon. Blazek, who spent the past three seasons in the same role at Vanderbilt, returns to the Big Ten having played at Iowa from 1999 to 2000 and coached at Rutgers from 2016 to 2018.
“We’re thankful to have AJ joining our staff,” said head coach Luke Fickell (https://247sports.com/Coach/luke-fickell-88). “He has a track record of success across college football. AJ brings a familiarity of playing in the Big Ten, as well as recruiting experience in traditional Big Ten areas, to our program.”
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This guy might make some sense for UW safeties coach. Why did OSU let him go?
What say @Honestbuckeye (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=37) @medinabuckeye1 (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1547) @MrNubbz (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=17) ?
Perry Eliano - Safeties Coach - Football Coaches - Ohio State (ohiostatebuckeyes.com) (https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/perry-eliano/967)
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He was a reasonable on the field coach. His issue was that he missed on too many recruits.
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Thanks @Abba (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=65) .
Who did he miss on, and where did they land?
Wisconsin needs to replace an ace recruiter.
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I don't follow recruiting that closely anymore, but it seems the big ones that are brought up are KJ Bolden and Caleb Downs. Hard to pull kids from the south though. He did bring in a few 4-star guys. Just wasn't on the same page w/ the recruiting strategy I guess, which is a bit vague. In the end, his 2-year contract ended and they chose not to renew.
Of all of the firings so far for the Buckeyes, this was the biggest surprise. He wasn't really on my radar as an underperformer.
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This guy might make some sense for UW safeties coach. Why did OSU let him go?
What say @Honestbuckeye (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=37) @medinabuckeye1 (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1547) @MrNubbz (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=17) ?
Not really sure as I've not followed that real close with NIL, the Portal and games and cheating going on. But I've read/agree what ABBA stated
"The Safety play was good this year, but the recruiting simply hasn't been. You can only miss so many times before you run into a big time issue like we did with the CB room last year." or "Still missing on his top targets" or "Eliano did a solid job leading the on-field product in the secondary over the last two years, but there were recruiting misses and it felt at times like there was a little bit of a disconnect with the defensive staff overall. Either way, the decision has been made and the Buckeyes officially have the first open spot to fill on the staff."
those type of posts on homer boards
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Not sure what to think of this. Not a bad safeties coach. Definitely not a good DC.
(https://i.imgur.com/JPMn66k.png)
Has some recruiting chops at least.
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Not sure what to think of this. Not a bad safeties coach. Definitely not a good DC.
(https://i.imgur.com/JPMn66k.png)
Has some recruiting chops at least.
Wild that he was once a real up and comer.
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As a position coach I guess it's fine
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(https://i.imgur.com/yhy9mIp.png)
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need to do better
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Sandbaggers.
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This is too weird. People are saying Michigan hired Greg Scruggs, but no official announcement has been made.
And then there is this:
Greg Scruggs | Football Coach | Wisconsin Badgers (uwbadgers.com) (https://uwbadgers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/greg-scruggs/2140)
And this:
Greg Scruggs (@G_Scruggs) / X (twitter.com) (https://twitter.com/G_Scruggs)
That these pages exist is enough to tell me that this is not a done deal.
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He's our spy in the Badger's hole.
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Well, that's good if you want to go 7-6 next year.
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MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin football officially announced the hiring of defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow (https://uwbadgers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/e-j-whitlow/2368) on Monday morning. Whitlow joins the Badgers' staff after two seasons in the same position at Air Force and 14 seasons as a collegiate coach.
"I'm excited to have E.J. join our staff," said head coach Luke Fickell (https://uwbadgers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/luke-fickell/2130). "E.J. is a fantastic coach and person, and he has Midwest ties that will help our recruiting and player development efforts."
Last season, Whitlow helped manage a defense that ranked No. 7 nationally in rushing defense (90.9) and No. 20 in passing defense (186.8). The Air Force defense totaled 30 sacks for just the second time since 2017. By the end of Whitlow's tenure, the Falcons' defense had allowed 21 points or fewer in 15 of the last 20 games.
In 2022, his first season leading the defensive line at Air Force, Whitlow helped the Falcons become the No. 1 defense in the country (254.5 yards per game). Whitlow's defensive line helped hold opponents to 95.3 rushing yards per game, the sixth-fewest in college football.
"I'm fired up to be joining Coach Fickell's staff at Wisconsin," said Whitlow. "It's a fantastic opportunity to work with a great staff and at a program with plenty of tradition."
Prior to his two-year stint at Air Force, Whitlow spent four years at Miami University (Ohio) from 2018-21. He developed several All-MAC performers and helped the RedHawks claim the MAC Championship in 2019. In the conference championship season, Miami recorded 38 sacks, 28 of those coming from the defensive line.
At Miami, Whitlow helped develop Dominique Robinson, a fifth-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 2022, and Doug Costin, a first team All-MAC performer who joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. He also coached Ivan Pace Jr., an eventual Cincinnati Bearcat and Minnesota Viking. Pace tallied six sacks in a game in 2019 as a freshman at Miami. Lonnie Phelps, who earned a roster spot with the Browns in 2023, also played under Whitlow at Miami before finishing his college career at Kansas.
From 2014-17, Whitlow coached the defensive line at Grand Valley State under then-head coach Matt Mitchell (https://uwbadgers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/matt-mitchell/2141), who now coaches the Badgers' outside linebackers. Under Whitlow, GVSU's defensive line turned into one of the top defensive lines in the country annually. He tutored nine All-GLIAC honorees in four years, watching the Lakers record 144 sacks in that span.
In 2017, Whitlow's defensive line had three players earn all-conference honors, including a pair of first team award winners. As a team, the Lakers allowed just 13.0 points per game, and due to the pass rush, gave up just four touchdown passes all season.
In 2016, the Lakers limited opponents to 134.3 rushing yards per game, recording 40 quarterback sacks and 96 tackles for loss. In 2015, Whitlow coached Matt Judon (New England Patriot), who went on to win the Gene Upshaw Award, given to the nation's top interior lineman. With Judon's help, GVSU would lead the nation in sacks with 49.
"Coach Mitchell was a great person and coach to work with at Grand Valley State," said Whitlow. "I'm excited to join a staff with plenty of recruiting, coaching and player development experience."
Prior to joining Grand Valley State, Whitlow spent four years at Notre Dame College (Ohio) and was a part of the program from its beginning as the Falcons initial season playing football was in 2010. Whitlow was a graduate assistant in 2010 and 2011 but became the full-time defensive line coach in 2012.
Whitlow played collegiately at Findlay from 2006-10, where he was twice an All-GLIAC performer as a defensive tackle and was named the Oilers' 2009 Team MVP. He recorded 44 total tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss en route to earning All-GLIAC honors as a junior, followed by senior season in which he tallied career-highs in total tackles (60) and tackles for loss with six and was named First Team All-GLIAC and team MVP.
Whitlow and his wife, Kierre, are the parents of Emily and Emmanuel II.
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I like this hire. I liked Scruggs too, on the recruiting trail, even though he lost a couple of top targets to Michigan and Washington. He hit on four really nice ones - all 4 STARZ.
He didn't have much to work with last season in Madison and the DL was the weak link for the defense. He'll have a ton to work with in Ann Arbor next season.
This new hire for UW is proven as a developer of talent, which is what UW is all about. It's a good fit.
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(https://i.imgur.com/gP7wIzn.jpeg)
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Direct shot at Miami. I like it.
(https://i.imgur.com/mhKb9ip.png)
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(https://i.imgur.com/gP7wIzn.jpeg)
If only I still lived there
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If only I still lived there
You mention that a lot. What's keeping you from going back?
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You mention that a lot. What's keeping you from going back?
I mean, that was more "it would be convenient" not necessarily longing for the place. But I'll share.
There's a few reasons. First is probably that its expensive. I like being able to save more money and I've never dealt with those prices, and thus the shock of that feels like a barrier of sorts. For a while, jobs dictated my geography, though that ended a few years ago. I could transfer and just make less relatively.
I have a smattering of friends back home, but the group is small (we're over 15 years not living there). I have folks in this part of the country. So that's sort of a push. Especially with some good friends getting busier with kids and such.
I suppose some health things with family could pull me back. But up to this point, nothing has strongly pulled me back, and its easier to not move across the country than to do it.
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QB Nick Evers to the portal. Came to UW from OU last year and just can't learn the offense. Wants to play QB and it's not happening in Madison. Was a 4* recruit by OU. Does not live up to that so far.
LB/DE/? TJ Bollers to the portal. Another 4* recruit by Wisconsin, he could just not find a position as a tweener. If he goes somewhere that runs a 4-3, he could see the field. He was not going to see much if he stayed in Madison.
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WR Tommy McIntosh to the portal. Couldn't crack the depth. He's 6-5 with great speed. Oh well.
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Busy week for outgoing.
(https://i.imgur.com/UJFL70l.png)
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LB/DE/? TJ Bollers to the portal. Another 4* recruit by Wisconsin, he could just not find a position as a tweener. If he goes somewhere that runs a 4-3, he could see the field. He was not going to see much if he stayed in Madison.
That's kinda interesting b/c he was considered a much better fit for a 3-4 than 4-3 coming out of HS. I haven't followed his career to see if/how he grew.
As an aside, he ruled out Iowa fairly early b/c his dad hated Brian. Can’t say I blame him, ha!
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That's kinda interesting b/c he was considered a much better fit for a 3-4 than 4-3 coming out of HS. I haven't followed his career to see if/how he grew.
As an aside, he ruled out Iowa fairly early b/c his dad hated Brian. Can’t say I blame him, ha!
Committed to Cal yesterday.
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nice campus
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He should sign up for a frequent flyer program. Lots of trips to the East Coast ahead of him.
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hopefully he gets peanuts
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I don't get this one at all. He's in the depth and the two starters are likely after this season.
(https://i.imgur.com/XrOTRu9.png)
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pay the man
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Shirley
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pay the man
Someone might, but I doubt it would be much, if anything at all.
He was around 5th on the depth in Madison. Probably should have just stayed at the Air Force Acadamy.
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waiting behind 2 starters is tuff when you obviously have NFL talent
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The DB's are as strong as they've been in at least 20 years, if not the strongest.
I feel that now they can compete with the speed teams, finally.
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The DB's are as strong as they've been in at least 20 years, if not the strongest.
I feel that now they can compete with the speed teams, finally.
Hope they play like that. Last year was soft.
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Front 7 got no pressure. I think that's fixed a little better than it was last season.