The Wisconsin Badgers offense is going to look a lot different this season when the season begins on September 2 at home against the Buffalo Bulls than it has been in years past. Under former head coach Paul Chryst, they would have offensive plays known as 32 personnel which meant that two tight ends lined up as blockers on either side of the offensive tackles, while three players were set in the backfield behind the quarterback.
It appears as if the Badgers will no longer be going that route with new head coach Luke Fickell in his first season with the program and offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Longo’s offensive approach is an air-raid offense. There will be no fullbacks in this new offensive scheme and in this offensive scheme.
A season ago, the Wisconsin Badgers had two fullbacks on the roster and now they have no fullbacks on the roster. The two fullbacks last season were Jackson Acker and Riley Nowakowski. They both converted to different positions as Acker is now a running back and Nowakowski is now a tight end.
Former Wisconsin Badgers football players who used to play the position were interviewed by Jesse Temple of the Athletic. Matt Bernstein, who was a fullback at Wisconsin from 2002 to 2005 spoke on the matter:
“I’m happy we’re evolving, but I’m also very sad that the fullback position will be left behind. For however long Wisconsin has really been an offense, they’ve had a fullback. I always loved watching them. A lot of the fullbacks become folk heroes. So it’s a little sad.”
John Chenal is a former fullback at Wisconsin as well and had a ton of fun playing the position when he was in college. He also told Jesse Temple of the Athletic this statement:
“You’ve got to be proud of it becuase there’s a small group of it because there’s a small group and we have to earn every inch we get because life isn’t easy as a fullback. It takes a certain type of guy. I’m really proud and fortunate to have been in that position, especially at Wisconsin, which I considered until now to be Fullback U.”
Wisconsin Badgers Offense to Look a Lot Different This Season
With the Wisconsin Badgers no longer having fullbacks in their offense, they will still be able to run the football with Braelon Allen in the backfield but expect more passing. Tanner Mordecai, a transfer from SMU, will be slinging it this season. Chimere Dike and C.J. Williams will be two of the wide receivers to watch for in this offense and redshirt sophomore Jack Pugh will be the starting tight end.
Every year, Wisconsin always has a solid offensive line and the defense will need to play efficiently if they want to have a bounce-back season. Longo was previously the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 2019-2022. The offense should be able to put up a ton of points this season and he did that at North Carolina.
Longo has helped quarterback Drake Maye develop into a legitimate quarterback and Wisconsin Badgers fans hope the same happens with Tanner Mordecai.
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