Luke Fickell Has a Knack for Finding, Developing Unheralded Defensive Backs

Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell has become well-known nationwide for his ability to find and develop unheralded defensive backs.

Wisconsin football head coach Luke Fickell has become well-known nationwide for his ability to find and develop unheralded defensive backs during his time at Cincinnati.

His most recent example of this is Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, who stands at 6-foot-3 and was one of the best cornerbacks in college football. Sauce was a low three-star prospect out of Michigan and rated as the No. 144 CB in his recruiting class.

But the coaching staff saw something in him, developed him, and after a successful collegiate career, he was selected fourth overall by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Gardner went on to win Rookie of the Year honors and was even named first-team All-Pro.

But he’s not coach Fickell’s only success story. He’s also played a role in developing Mike Tyson, a 6-foot-2, three-star outside linebacker recruit turned safety, who made it to the NFL as a sixth-round draft pick.

And then there’s Darrick Forest (6-foot), the No. 196 CB prospect in his class, who became a free safety at Cincinnati and went on to the NFL as a fifth-round selection. Along with former three-star cornerback James Wiggins, who became a seventh-round draft pick at free safety the same year.

Lastly, Colby Bryant, a 5-foot-11 two-star CB ranked No. 214 in his class at his position, developed into a fourth-round draft pick under the Bearcats coaching staff.

What is Luke Fickell’s Secret? 

So, you’re probably wondering what is the secret to his success in finding and developing these underrecruited and potentially undervalued players.