Apr 11, 2023; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin quarterback Nick Evers (7) is proven throughout observe Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Necessary Credit score: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports activities
There was buzz round Wisconsin’s newfound ‘QB Manufacturing unit’ after the hiring of OC Phil Longo was adopted by switch additions of Tanner Mordecai (SMU), Nick Evers (Oklahoma) and Braedyn Locke (Mississippi State).
Mordecai fell wanting expectations in 2023, whereas Locke regarded like a redshirt freshman in his restricted motion. Evers, in the meantime, has since transferred to UConn. None of these three are a Sam Howell or Drake Maye-level expertise — two quarterbacks who had been instrumental in Longo’s success at North Carolina.
The largest indication of the state of the room is that Wisconsin once more went the switch route coming into 2024 with the addition of former Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke. That despatched the message that Locke isn’t but a top-end possibility. Which isn’t solely shocking, as most applications groom younger quarterbacks for years earlier than they step onto the sphere. Nevertheless it does imply that this quarterback room, as of at the moment, isn’t in any respect totally different than what it was earlier than Longo’s arrival.
Plus, the larger motive for warning surrounding Longo’s ‘manufacturing facility:’ Wisconsin has but to land a top-end highschool quarterback. Wisconsin 2024 commit Mabrey Mettauer was the No. 52 QB within the cycle, whereas 2025 commit Landyn Locke is No. 56. The long-term outlook sees the Badgers persevering with to get one-year switch leases.
On-field play will matter greater than anything. However coming into yr two, I’m rising skeptical of the game-changing quarterback manufacturing facility.
