Time continues to tick away before the Wisconsin Badgers take the field to begin their 2024 football season.
The next step is fall training camp, which spans from July 29 to the week leading up to the team’s Aug. 30 season-opener against Western Michigan. The first two weeks from July 29 — Aug. 12 will be held on the campus of UW-Platteville before the team travels back to Madison, Wisconsin for its final preparation.
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The 2024 season is one of both intrigue and importance for the Wisconsin football program. The goal will be a step forward after consecutive 7-6 seasons. It will need to be accomplished against one of the sport’s toughest schedules as the Big Ten expands to 18 members, plus as head coach Luke Fickell continues to install his program and its identity.
That dynamic creates a substantial unknown surrounding the season with it kickstarting the conference’s new era. It also puts further importance on the job required of Fickell and his staff to turn the program around. 2024 projects to be a turning point in the program’s history in the conference. Which direction the program turns is the big variable.
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Preseason Previews
Big Ten Team Previews: Indiana Hoosiers — Purdue Boilermakers — Illinois Fighting Illini — Northwestern Wildcats — Minnesota Golden Gophers — Nebraska Cornhuskers — Iowa Hawkeyes — Rutgers Scarlet Knights — Maryland Terrapins — Michigan State Spartans — USC Trojans — UCLA Bruins — Washington Huskies — Michigan Wolverines — Penn State Nittany Lions — Ohio State Buckeyes — Oregon Ducks — Wisconsin Badgers
Big Ten Position Previews: Quarterbacks — Running Backs — Wide Receivers — Offensive Lines — Tight Ends — Defensive Line — Linebackers — Cornerbacks — Safeties
Wisconsin Position Previews: Quarterback
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Our Wisconsin position preview series begins today as the program travels to UW-Platteville to begin camp on July 29. We start with a look at the Badgers’ quarterback room — a group that will come close to deciding the team’s fate this season:
Notable Departures
Jan 1, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) looks to throw during the first half against the LSU Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Tanner Mordecai (NFL, San Francisco 49ers) — Mordecai was Wisconsin’s starting quarterback in 2023. He and the Badgers were mostly struggling on offense before he broke his hand against Iowa and missed nearly a month. The team ended up finding an offensive groove late in the season, capped off by a terrific bowl performance. Mordecai went on to sign with the San Francisco 49ers after the 2024 NFL draft and is currently on their training camp roster.
Nick Evers (UConn) — Evers transferred from Oklahoma to Wisconsin during the Badgers’ wave of quarterback additions during the 2023 offseason. He fell behind Braedyn Locke on the depth chart and was the No. 3 quarterback for the majority of the season. He entered the transfer portal after the season and committed to UConn.
Myles Burkett (Albany) — Burkett was a Paul Chryst recruit back in the class of 2022. He played in one game for the Badgers back in 2022, completing 4 of 5 passes for 84 yards. Like Evers, Burkett was far down the depth chart during the 2023 season and opted to transfer to where he can find playing time.
Incoming Freshmen
Wisconsin quarterback Mabrey Mettauer throws a pass as coach Luke Fickell watches during spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday April 2, 2024. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Mabrey Mettauer — four-star, No. 462 in class of 2024, No. 31 quarterback, No. 74 player from Texas
Incoming Transfers
Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Van Dyke throws a pass as coach Luke Fickell watches during spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday April 2, 2024. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Tyler Van Dyke (Miami) — Van Dyke is a Mordecai-like addition by the Badgers’ staff. He transfers in with a year of eligibility remaining after starting for the last three seasons at Miami. His breakout redshirt freshman season in 2021 included 2,931 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. His performance in 2022 and 2023 was more volatile, but some blame the Miami staff for his lack of development.
Returning Players
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 21: Braedyn Locke #18 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates following the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke — five games, 50% completion, 777 yards, 5.1 yards per attempt, five touchdowns, one interception
Redshirt freshman Cole LaCrue — zero college experience
Two-Deep Depth Chart
Wisconsin quarterbacks Tyler Van Dyke (10) and Braedyn Locke (18) warm up on the field north of Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday April 27, 2024 before the team’s intrasquad scrimmage. Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Starter: Tyler Van Dyke
Backup: Braedyn Locke
This one should be pretty simple during training camp. Van Dyke transfers in for a final year of eligibility and is the best option to lead the offense. Wisconsin’s staff adding the veteran shows their sentiment that Locke may not be ready for a full-time, full-season starting job. He will be the primary backup entering the season and prepare to start in 2025.
Names To Know
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell watches as quarterback Mabrey Mettauer throws a pass during practice just outside Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday April 7, 2024. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Tyler Van Dyke, Braedyn Locke, Mabrey Mettauer
Nick Evers’ offseason departure made Wisconsin’s quarterback pecking order pretty simple. Van Dyke will start, Locke will back up him and Mettauer will be someone worth watching as he adapts to the college level. LaCrue may technically be the third option on the depth chart, but more focus should be paid to Mettauer and his development.
Storylines
Oct 7, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (9) walks on the field in the second half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
There are two main storylines to watch this season. First, is Van Dyke a tangible upgrade over Mordecai and does he elevate the offense. Second, what does the future look like at the position.
2024 needs to be about improvement for Wisconsin’s offense after a rough 2023 season. That will fall on the shoulders of Van Dyke, but will also start to paint the picture of what to expect in the coming years. Wisconsin was labeled a ‘QB factory’ when it landed Mordecai, Locke and Evers during the 2023 offseason. The results of that factory are yet to be seen, and the team will not win games if those results are nonexistent.
Overall Outlook
Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo works with the team’s quarterbacks during practice on Tuesday April 9, 2024 at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
The outlook surrounding Wisconsin’s quarterback situation is positive entering 2024. There are plenty of logical reasons pointing to why Van Dyke will experience a career renaissance in Longo’s up-tempo, weapon-filled offense.
Some of that outlook is wishful thinking after 2023’s intense struggles. The most accurate season outlook I can write: Van Dyke should be an upgrade over Mordecai and help the offense improve. But he better be. Because otherwise, the future outlook becomes somewhat bleak.
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Publish date : 2024-07-28 09:00:00
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