Wisconsin QB Braedyn Locke: Rest of 2024 ‘an opportunity to show what I can do’

Wisconsin QB Braedyn Locke: Rest of 2024 ‘an opportunity to show what I can do’

The Wisconsin Badgers have entered an all-too-familiar position with their starting quarterback.

Veteran starter Tyler Van Dyke will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, leaving redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke to take his place under center. It is the second time in as many seasons that Luke Fickell’s team must rely on the underclassman backup after an injury to the starter. The same happened in 2023 when Tanner Mordecai missed a month with a hand injury.

Related: Wisconsin updated depth chart for Week 5 vs. USC includes new starters at quarterback, tight end

The Badgers should be better equipped to handle the situation this time around. Unlike in 2023, the staff got a bye week to reevaluate the team and reconfigure the offense to Locke’s strengths. The instant performance when Locke entered against Iowa last season and against Alabama two weeks ago should not be held against the staff or OC Phil Longo.

The next few weeks of play, however, can be.

All of those signs point toward better results from Locke and the offense than during the same situation last season. The team got a week to prepare, the offensive personnel is a year older in the system and the offensive line is arguably the strength of the team. But most importantly: Locke himself should be much improved after another year of development in Longo’s system. If Wisconsin wanted to create a ‘quarterback factory,’ Locke should be the first proof of concept.

Expectations for the redshirt sophomore through the rest of the season should surpass his tallies of 777 passing yards, 5.1 yards per attempt, 5 touchdowns and 1 interception on 50% completion in limited action in 2023.

How is Locke handling the situation? The Badgers new starter met with the media on Tuesday and discussed stepping in as starter entering Week 4 after losing the starting job to Van Dyke in training camp:

“I do know that this is an extremely great opportunity for me, and an opportunity to show what I can do,” Locke said. “I definitely don’t take that lightly. I’m thankful for it. You don’t wish that Tyler [Van Dyke] goes down or anything like that. You hate it for him. But I have to step in, I have to do my job. So yea, I’m extremely excited and I’m ready to do what I can do.”

Locke and the Badgers are back in action on Saturday in their Big Ten opener at No. 13 USC at 3:30 p.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. CT. USC’s defense is improved from its FBS-worst standing over the last few years. It still ranks No. 65 in ESPN SP+’s latest update. Locke and the Badgers offense should have little trouble putting points on the board.

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