The Badgers will be looking at the transfer portal this week
The Wisconsin Badgers need to find a starting quarterback for 2023. Starting quarterback Graham Mertz is entering the transfer portal. New head coach Luke Fickell said the Badgers intend to find out what they have at the position during the bowl period. However, the Badgers will still need to find a quarterback by recruiting or getting a transfer.
According to Cole Thomson with Sports Illustrated, Texas Longhorns quarterback Hudson Card officially entered the transfer portal Monday morning. Card was a four-star recruit in the class of 2020. He was the number two dual-threat quarterback in the nation.
A dual-threat quarterback seems to be what Wisconsin wants under Fickell. Card’s name was linked to the Badgers not long after he announced his intention to leave Texas. Per Joey Hickey of USA Today, Card would fit into the Badgers program next season:
“Luke Fickell was brought over from Cincinnati to make Wisconsin a true Big Ten contender. The Badgers were not content making occasional Big Ten championships. They might want to explore the program’s ceiling with a quarterback other than Graham Mertz. Hudson Card could give them the best chance to unlock their potential.”
The Badgers will definitely be watching out for Card. Card played in seven games for the Longhorns last season. He battled back and forth for the starting job before the 2021 season with Casey Thompson. Thompson replaced Card as the starter midseason, but Card earned playing time when Thompson injured his thumb. (Thompson transferred to Nebraska for the 2022 season.) Card played in 19 games during the 2021-22 seasons at Texas. He threw 11 touchdowns to two interceptions during his time at Texas.
Quinn Ewers had the starting job in 2022 when he was healthy. Card is transferring as the Longhorn quarterback room will be stacked with Ewers, and top quarterback recruit Arch Manning next season.