Wisconsin looking to fill offensive line coach vacancy after re-assigning Jack Bicknell Jr, per report

The Wisconsin Badgers just finished up their first season under the direction of head coach Luke Fickell with a noteworthy 7- 6 season. Fickell and the Badgers would have loved to have finished the year with a better record and a win over the LSU Tigers in the ReliaQuest Bowl, but multiple issues prevented that from happening. So, to remedy some of Wisconsin’s struggles this season, numerous changes and adjustments have been made to the coaching staff. On Saturday, Fickell made another move, resulting in an opening at one of his offensive coaching positions.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Fickell and the Badgers have reassigned offensive line coach Jack Bricknell Jr, which now leaves Wisconsin searching for a new O-line coach. Per Thamel’s report, there is no additional information on what Bricknell’s new role is or what his responsibilities will be.

Bricknell spent just one season as Wisconsin’s offensive line coach, which is his coaching specialty. Outside of his one year as a graduate assistant at Boston College and his time as the head coach at Louisiana Tech from 1999 – 2006, he has exclusively worked as an offensive line coach. It is worth noting that over the past five years, Bricknell has held that position at five different universities.

Wisconsin’s o-line issues?

Wisconsin is a program that prides itself on its offensive line play and ability to control a game in the trenches. This season, that was a noticeable area of opportunity for the Badgers. Excluding the shortened 2020 season, 2023 is the first time Wisconsin failed to have a running back rush for more than 1,000 yards. They also gave up 20-plus sacks. This year, starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai was credited with being sacked 17 times. And his backup, Braedyn Locke, was sacked six times this season.

As for blocking in the run game, Wisconsin, as a team, did rush for over 2000 yards; 2,095 to be exact. However, for the first time in his collegiate career, the team’s leading rusher, Braelon Allen, failed to rush for over 1000 yards, missing the mark by just 16 yards. In his last two years in the Wisconsin backfield, Allen has accounted for 1200-plus yards each season.

It is unclear who Fickell and the Wisconsin athletic department are looking at to fill the offensive coaching void. However, fans should anticipate a hire who will help bring back the dominant offensive line play the Badgers have been recognized for in previous years.