Jaguars' Mel Tucker interviews with Wisconsin

Wisconsin has interviewed Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker for its vacant football head coaching position, according to Big Ten Network. Tom Dienhart, who credits a source close to the search, says that Tucker was interviewed on Friday.

Tucker, who has been with the Jaguars since January 2009, was a member of former head coach Barry Alvarez's first recruiting class in 1992. He was a defensive back with the Badgers, graduating in 1995. From there, he worked at Michigan State, Miami (Ohio), Louisiana State, and Ohio State as a defensive coach. In 2005, Tucker jumped to the NFL to work as the defensive backs coach for his hometown Cleveland Browns, and was named the team's defensive coordinator in 2008.

Tucker is one of three reported candidates who have interviewed for the job, joining Utah State head coach Gary Andersen and Bowling Green coach Dave Clawson. All three are vying to replace Bret Bielema, who took the open head coaching position at Arkansas on Dec. 4.

Wisconsin will take part in the Rose Bowl Jan. 1, 2013, coached by Alvarez, who is also the school's athletic director.