Will Wisconsin’s starting QB be Graham Mertz next season?
The Wisconsin Badgers have fought their way to become bowl-eligible this season. The turnaround under interim head coach Jim Leonhard has likely landed him the permanent position as the Badgers’ head coach. The Badgers program needs to change to stay competitive in the Leonhard era. One insider suggested this week that Leonhard might make a change with the Wisconsin starting QB.
Jesse Temple, who covers the Badgers for The Athletic, wrote about Graham Mertz’s future with the program. Temple suggested that Mertz will likely be the starting quarterback, but Leonhard’s recent comments indicate the Badgers are exploring other options:
Leonhard was asked this week for his thoughts on what offensive system is the most difficult to match up against with his defense. Part of his response was notable — if we’re going to try to read deeply into this — for what it could mean at Wisconsin.
“The great equalizer right now is a quarterback that can run and a quarterback that can turn a bad play into a good play,” Leonhard said. “That’s always given us issues, as most teams. You look around the country. Anytime you can play perfect football and still lose, it’s pretty frustrating.”
That doesn’t automatically mean Leonhard sees the path next season without Mertz. But it could provide insight into the type of quarterback he would want to pursue in the transfer portal. And make no mistake: Coaches owe it to the program to comb the portal for a quarterback addition.
Has Mertz done enough to keep the starting job?
Mertz is a redshirt Junior this season. He’s had a lot of success with the Badgers since becoming the starter. However, Mertz’s play leaves a lot to be desired. He’s not as mobile as elite quarterbacks in college are expected to be. He was inconsistent last season with turnovers. This season, Mertz’s touchdown-to-interception ratio is better. But will it be good enough for a program that wants to contend for a Big Ten Championship?
The Badgers should keep their eyes open to the transfer portal. If they can find a quarterback who brings more dynamic skills to Madison, they should offer that quarterback. Mertz’s production is solid, but he lacks the skill set to take the Badgers where they want to in the post-season.
