Wisconsin Football is back! This week, the Badgers begin fall camp in preparation for the 2023 season. There has been a lot of changes over the last eight months. In just a few short weeks, we will finally get to see what that looks like in real time game action. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will be previewing every position on the Wisconsin roster. This will include who I think the starter(s) will be as well as the second team. Today, I begin with the quarterbacks. This room saw a ton of turnover and only one quarterback from last year’s team remains on the roster today. That is Myles Burkett.
Starter- Tanner Mordecai (Senior)
Despite all the changes since November, there will be no quarterback competition for the starting job this year. SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai took the first team reps every practice in the spring and will be under center when the season starts. Mordecai had two excellent seasons at SMU. He recorded over 7,000 passing yards and 72 touchdowns including a nine touchdown performance last season.
SMU is a respected program, but this will also be the toughest competition Mordecai will face in his college career. The Big Ten West will be a tough division and the Big Ten as a whole is arguably the best conference in the country not named the SEC. Mordecai is an experienced quarterback with a ton of game action. He should also fit very well in Phil Longo’s offensive scheme.
Backup- Braedyn Locke (Freshman)
Braedyn Locke up to Keontez Lewis.@Braedyn_Locke3 @Nolimitk3 #Badgers pic.twitter.com/vBfvmaE6qr
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) April 28, 2023
The glaring need in the quarterback room is the experience after Mordecai. To be blunt, there is no experience. Braedyn Locke did not throw a pass last season. Oklahoma transfer Nick Evers threw just one pass, Myles Burkett threw five passes, and Cole Lacrue is a true freshman.
So why Locke as the number two? Over the course of spring practices, it was the Mississippi State transfer who looked the best. Locke also played in a similar system under the late Mike Leach. Locke seemed to have the edge all spring and unless something crazy happens in fall camp, I’m going to stick with Locke as the number two.
Overall
This is a young group with a sixth year senior and not much experience after Mordecai. However, there is a lot of talent in this room as well. I think it’s Nick Evers who has the most talent. If he is able to have a solid fall camp, he could make a run at Braedyn Locke for QB2. It may not be this year, but next year we could see a potential battle for QB1 in 2024. As long as Tanner Mordecai is healthy, Wisconsin has one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten.
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