I wrote about Jack Coan this week and why he and his impressive 2019 production have been mostly overlooked by Badger fans.
Asher Low and I also went through the article and talked about why it is the case and what it means for the 2020 season on LockedOnBadgers a few days later.
Coan will start in 2020 for Paul Chryst‘s team. That much is known.
This all said, though, with the recognition that redshirt freshman and former four-star recruit Graham Mertz is indeed in line to be the one of the best players Wisconsin has had at quarterback in a long time and helps point to a bright future for Badger football.
If you need a positive outlook and something to look forward to while we await the return of sports, this is it.
The Kansas native was the 2018 Gatorade Player of the Year, an All-American bowl selection, two-time All-State player, an Elite 11 quarterback and the No. 3 pro style quarterback in his class.
Though he only threw ten passes last season during his redshirt year, the flashes of brilliance were there even if it came with the team up big and many of the starters on the bench.
Take this appearance against Central Michigan, his college football debut.
What I want to highlight is the second, fourth and fifth passes thrown in the video.
Though he was only a true freshman you already see the arm strength, footwork and accuracy that made him such a highly-touted recruit.
Yes, there is still growth needed for him to fully adapt to the college level. But much can be taken from his first collegiate snaps to foresee what he has the potential to become.
Many quarterbacks are able to complete that pass to Aron Cruikshank over the middle, but if you’re looking for jump-off-the-field arm strength that pass was it.
Chryst and his staff have done a wonderful job reloading the talent lost to the NFL in recent years–they currently have the No. 17 2021 recruiting class in the nation after finishing the 2020 recruiting period with the No. 26 class–and if you want the closest quarterback-running back duo since Russell Wilson and Montee Ball look no further than the future pairing of Mertz and four-star 2020 running back Jalen Berger.
This will be Coan’s team in 2020 as the Badger look reach and win their Big Ten Championship since 2012. But after Coan graduates? Get ready for a Mertz era that should bring success and lots of it to Madison.