Report: Wisconsin expected to hire Air Force assistant EJ Whitlow as DL coach

Wisconsin reportedly has its new defensive line coach. EJ Whitlow of Air Force is being hired to lead the Badgers d-line, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Whitlow is replacing Greg Scruggs, who was named the defensive line coach at Michigan earlier this month.

Whitlow recently completed his second season at Air Force. The Falcons had 68 tackles for loss each of the past two seasons. He helped the Air Force defense rank No. 1 in total defense in 2022 and No. 6 this past season.

Prior to coming to Air Force, Whitlow was at Miami (Ohio) where he served as the defensive line coach. He was also the defensive run game coordinator his final year there.

Before coaching at Miami (Ohio), Whitlow spent four years on staff at Grand Valley State University.

Whitlow played college football at Findlay from 2006-10. He then started working his way up in coaching and is now in the Big Ten at Wisconsin.

The Badgers are coming off of a 7-6 season under first-year head coach Luke Fickell.

Wisconsin opens the 2024 season on Saturday, Aug. 31 against Western Michigan. The Big Ten opener is scheduled for Sept. 28 at USC. Wisconsin also plays Alabama out of conference next season.

Luke Fickell hints at Mike Vrabel helping with Wisconsin football in spring

Elsewhere with the Wisconsin coaching staff, a former NFL head coach could be helping the Badgers this spring.

Things may not have turned out the way former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel would have liked as he remains unemployed by the NFL. However, there might be something in the works for him with his friend and current head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, Luke Fickell.

During a recent appearance on the ESPN Wisconsin duo of Wilde and Tausch Podcast Show, Fickell discussed several storylines surrounding his program as they enter into the 2024 offseason. And while joking about the rumors about why Vrabel was not hired after being let go by the Titans, the Badgers head man revealed he might be a visitor in Wisconsin early and often.

“I have talked to him,” Fickell said. “We hadn’t communicated for a week or so, just because the process was going. And honest to God, he sounded like a new man. I’m not sure exactly if this was his choice or what it is that the future really looks like, but I know that we’re gonna have a visitor here that’s gonna spend a little bit of time, hopefully, around us. You know, coming in the spring and some things like that. See how much, how deep we can get involved with my buddy.”