Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is entering 2024 training camp without having named a prohibitive starting quarterback.
The Badgers officially open camp on Monday, July 29 on location at UW-Platteville. The program will practice there until Aug. 12, when it travels back to Madison for the final two weeks of preparation before its Aug. 30 season opener against Western Michigan.
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All signs and logic point toward Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke starting under center in Week 1. The veteran was one of the Badgers’ prized transfer additions this offseason after starting for the last three years at Miami.
Van Dyke doesn’t join the Badgers’ program without questions — mainly around his slight regression after a breakout 2021 season. But he is far more experienced than top competitor Braedyn Locke — who is only a redshirt sophomore with five games of collegiate experience. The veteran was likely brought as another bridge quarterback while Locke continues to develop.
But despite it making sense for Van Dyke to be the clear No. 1 entering training camp, Fickell is adamant that there will be a full competition during the period. He joked to the assembled media at Big Ten media days that he “probably will never truly announce” a starter at the position.
Here is that full comment, courtesy of WISC-TV’s Andrew Bandstra:
Luke Fickell on QB competition: "we probably will never truly announce to you a starting quarterback," he said with a laugh.
— Andrew Bandstra (@andrewbandstra) July 23, 2024
Says it remains open, but ***seemed*** to be leaning towards Van Dyke throughout his interviews.#Badgers pic.twitter.com/ldPTM4ZZJc
Fickell’s reflection definitely leans toward Van Dyke emerging as the No. 1 during training camp. But in his words, nothing has been or will be officially announced. We will instead have to wait until this time next week after the team completes its first week of fall camp in preparation for the 2024 season.
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