Wisconsin football fans should be excited about the Phil Longo hire and here’s some stats why
It didn’t take Luke Fickell long to make a splash at Wisconsin.
Just days after Fickell accepted the job to become the new head coach, he’s found his offensive coordinator as the program will hire Phil Longo to serve the job. Longo leaves North Carolina after four years in Chapel Hill under Mack Brown. He also has experience at Ole Miss as well.
Longo will bring the Air Raid offense to Madison as it will be a new-look Badgers offense that will look to take over the Big Ten. And Longo just might be the guy that can elevate this offense to its full potential.
Looking at his four years at North Carolina, Wisconsin football fans should be excited for what’s coming. Check out these stats on Longo’s offense at North Carolina:
Total offense ranks in the country at North Carolina under new UW OC Phil Longo:
2022: 15th
2021: 10th
2020: 5th
2019: 12th— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) December 7, 2022
UNC's YPG under @CoachPhilLongo
2019: 474 (12th nationally)
2020: 537 (5th)
2021: 468 (10th)
2022: 473 (15th)
This year's team ranked 9th in passing. The 2020 team ranked 11th in rushing. He gets it done by maximizing his talent, not forcing scheme
Home run hire for the #badgers— Matt Perkins (@_Perko_) December 7, 2022
Under Longo UNC averaged…
36 PPG, 10th in FBS
487 YPG, 6th in FBS
6.8 yds per play, 5th in FBSI understand the end of season 4 gm losing streak but w/stats like this, why are y’all glad he’s leaving? Y’all do know this could get other impact players to hit the portal, right?
— Daniel C (@DanielC2903) December 7, 2022
Now, those should light up Badgers’ fans eyes seeing those. Longo did work with some premiere talent at North Carolina including quarterback Sam Howell for three years and Drake Maye last year. Maye was a Heisman Trophy candidate for most of the season and a big reason is his play in Longo’s offense.
He also coached Javonte Williams and Michael Carter, two running backs that are currently in the NFL.
Receivers Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome were also drafted while Josh Downs will be selected in April.
Getting the key pieces into place will be important for the Badgers. But Longo seems to have the formula to find success with this offense. And that could mean big things for the Badgers’ future under Fickell.