Luke Fickell shares impressions of Deion Burks, Purdue's offense

Wisconsin’s non-conference opponents have challenged their defense in different ways. Now, as they open their Big Ten season, Luke Fickell is expecting to see Purdue do similar things that their first three foes have done.

Fickell spoke about the Boilermaker’s offense during his press conference on Monday. He started by discussing Purdue’s big-play receiver, Deion Burks, and how his speed and abilities could hurt the Badgers.

“(Burks) is fast. He’s definitely fast. He’s definitely a guy that they move around and put into positions where they want to take some shots with him,” said Fickell. “I think the first thing that jumps out is speed. I think his ability to run but also to track the football and make some of those big plays.”

“It seems to be, each and every week, we come up with somebody that has one of these guys that is a bit of a difference maker,” said Fickell.

Burks has eight fewer catches than Purdue’s leading receiver in Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen. However, he has three more receiving yards because his catches are going for double the yardage of Yaseen’s catches. He is also the only player to catch a touchdown for the Boilermakers this fall as he has three.

Still, Burks isn’t the only weapon that Fickell and Wisconsin will have to gameplan for. With a veteran in Hudson Card at QB, he fully expects Purdue to continue to get creative in order to take advantage of the Badgers on defense.

“What I would say that (our opponents) have done a good job this year of doing in every game we’ve played is they’ve moved those guys around and found ways to get them targets,” said Fickell. “They’ve touched the ball a lot against us. I would expect, probably, very similar things.”

Wisconsin improved from their Washington State loss to their Georgia Southern win by giving up 17 fewer points. Even so, their defense has worsened from a yardage standpoint. The Cougars earned 17 more yards than Buffalo in the opener and the Eagles then gained 122 more yards than Wazzu.

That’s why, with Purdue and some of their weapons on deck, Fickell is hoping to see a better stand from his defense on Friday night in West Lafayette.

Fickell hopeful for the returns of Jake Renfro, Isaiah Mullens

Wisconsin begins Big Ten play on Friday and Luke Fickell is hopeful for Jake Renfro and Isaiah Mullens to return at Purdue.

Mullens, a grad transfer defensive end, got a scope done this summer and has yet to play in 2023. Fickell originally said Mullens, who got the procedure in early August, was unsure of his debut.

Renfro, who came over from Cincinnati with Fickell, is in a similar boat. He missed all of 2022 with right foot issues.

Fickell is hopeful for both to return soon and potentially as early as this week.

“I would hope maybe this week,” Fickell said. “If not this week, I would definitely expect that after the bye. Unless something else happens that that would be a definite time, they should be back in there.”