During Saturday’s game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler revealed that Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell had been shutting out NFL scouts from practice, which was the reason why teams sent them for games.
“Fickell has been shutting NFL scouts out of practice so games are the only chance for teams to get eyes on Wisconsin players in person,” Brugler tweeted.
There were several teams with scouts at Saturday’s game. Representatives from the New York Giants, New York Jets,
Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, and Minnesota Vikings.
The report came as a bit of a surprise, as scouts were regularly in the building back during spring ball. After the game, when asked about the topic, Fickell refuted the report altogether.
“No, [that report is not true]. We have NFL scouts there at practice almost every single day,” Fickell said. “I think that one week, we kind of said, on Wednesday, let’s not have a slew of guys. But, no. They are in the building, they are able to ask [what they want]. Maybe they can’t watch the whole practice on a Wednesday, I think.
“But, my goodness, we don’t even have much of a restriction. I think there was a week, but other than that, we have other things to worry about. Not needing to get into some Bill Belichick type of scouting situation. But, that is the least of our worries. They can ask all questions, and visit with too many people at times, but they are more than welcome.”
