Wisconsin star backs Luke Fickell with passionate message at the NFL Combine

Vinny Anthony II took to the podium at the NFL Combine today and was asked all sorts of questions. As he explained why he stayed at Wisconsin for four years and never transferred, like so many other players do, especially when the Badgers weren't very good. He talked about being loyal, but he also went on in follow-up thinking to praise Luke Fickell and give a strong belief in where the head coach is taking the program.

Anthony acknowledged that it hasn't been great right now, but that he still believes Fickell is the guy to turn it around at Wisconsin. "I definitely have a lot of confidence in Luke Fickell. I think he's definitely going to turn the program around. It might not look like it, the last couple of years, but it's definitely on the up-and-up."

Vinny Anthony II spoke highly of coach Luke Fickell at the NFL Combine ahead of his testing

Related: Mason Reiger is already drawing comparisons to T.J. Watt

This is important praise for Fickell, who has more doubters than believers right now. Anthony could have handled this question in a variety of different ways or even dodged it completely. However, he took his opportunity to heap praise on the Wisconsin head coach. To share his belief in not only the coach himself but also the trajectory Fickell is taking the program.

Vinny Anthony is right, though. It hasn't been pretty the last couple of years. Two years in a row of missed bowl games, losing records, and continued losses to rivals have left a very sour taste in Wisconsin fans' mouths.

Anthony spoke about other things ahead of his testing tomorrow. He's hoping his testing continues to elevate his draft stock. He's currently projected to be a 7th-round pick and will be a steal for whichever team gets him. His production at Wisconsin was not a good glimpse of how great a player he is. He has mostly had a rotating carousel of quarterbacks and injuries to his starting signal-callers.