The Wisconsin Badgers were dealt a massive blow during their 42-10 blowout loss to No. 4 Alabama on Saturday: Starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke went down with a knee injury, which was later confirmed to be a torn ACL.
The Badgers now turn to redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke for the remainder of 2024. The backup: true freshman Mabrey Mettauer (three-star recruit in class of 2024).
Related: After losing QB Tyler Van Dyke, what makes this Wisconsin football season a success?
Van Dyke’s unfortunate injury is the second time in as many seasons that Luke Fickell’s starting quarterback has gone down. 2023 starter Tanner Mordecai broke his hand in mid-October last year, though he was able to return for the final stretch of the season.
The injury tests Wisconsin’s organizational depth at the position. More than anything, it will test OC Phil Longo’s ability to adapt to a new player at the helm.
The move to Locke, to no surprise, is leading many to wonder how former Badger QB Nick Evers is performing as UConn’s starter this season.
Evers transferred in with Locke during the 2023 offseason. Both were redshirt freshmen and former four-star recruits when they joined the Badgers. Both are now starting as redshirt sophomores. Evers transferred to UConn after the 2023 season concluded after he was buried on the depth chart behind Van Dyke and Locke.
It is safe to say his start at UConn has been less-than-stellar.
The former Badger is 21 of 46 passing for 208 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions and a 44.7 QBR through two starts. He’s also added 73 rushing yards on 16 carries.
The former top recruit was injured in the Huskies’ Week 1 loss to Maryland, then returned for the team’s narrow loss to Duke on Saturday. While there were signs of improvement against Duke, he has mostly struggled during his time on the field.
Nick Evers to Alex Honig to give the Huskies the lead! 👏 pic.twitter.com/pKWDMZIyPw
— UConn Football (@UConnFootball) September 15, 2024
The one former Badger at UConn who is having immense success is WR Skyler Bell. Bell has 14 catches for 304 receiving yards and a touchdown through three weeks. That’s an average of more than 21 yards per catch, and more than 100 yards per game.
Bell is Evers’ top target when in the game. While the duo has put up solid numbers, it would be a stretch to say both would be doing so at Wisconsin.
Evers, at best, would currently be the backup if he had stayed in Madison. His transfer elsewhere should not be used against Luke Fickell or his staff — it’s the reality of the current age of the sport. It’s challenging to build depth in the quarterback room given how easy it is to find playing time elsewhere.
That leads to injuries only having more significance — a reality Wisconsin is currently dealing with.
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