Wisconsin Spring Practice Includes Unexpected QB Decision

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Wisconsin might have more of a QB battle in spring than fans expected.

Former Miami QB transferred to Madison following last season, and the belief has been that he will be QB1 for Luke Fickell and the Badgers when week one rolls around.

However, it won't come easy for the former Hurricanes passer. Wisconsin had its first spring practice of the year Friday and Braedyn Locke - not Van Dyke - took the QB1 reps for the 11-on-11 portion of the day, according to BadgerExtra.com.

Van Dyke did get QB1 reps during four-play sets of full-team drills, according to the same report. However, Locke was the top guy of the first spring practice of the year.

Locke served as the team's starter when Tanner Mordecai went down.

Can Wisconsin QB Braedyn Locke beat out Tyler Van Dyke for the QB1 role in Madison? (Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)

Braedyn Locke takes QB1 reps in Wisconsin's first spring practice.

This news is definitely going to be surprising for fans, but it really shouldn't be. It's one spring practice, and Locke started multiple games last year for the Badgers.

Fickell doesn't want anything to come easy. It has to be earned, and that means Van Dyke has to go out and earn the QB1 role, which he almost certainly will by the time September rolls around.

However, Locke getting a QB1 look is great news. Iron sharpen irons, and it sounds like Fickell plans on cycling guys in and out.

Will Tyler Van Dyke start for the Wisconsin Badgers? (Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports)

"Sometimes by letting those guys roll with the (No.) 1s that gives the Nicks (Evers) and the rest of the crew some opportunity to roll with the 2s as well. We've got a young freshman kid (Mabrey Mettauer) who's here who needs to get reps and Nick Evers who has been here for another year who needs to get reps. So we've got to be able to throw those guys not just with the 3 crew, because there is a different look to what you're doing," Fickell explained, according to the report following the team's first spring practice.

When it comes to experience, the gap is huge. Let's look at some numbers:

  • Tyler Van Dyke: 7,469 passing yards, 54 passing touchdowns and 23 interceptions in 32 appearances.
  • Braedyn Locke: 777 passing yards, five passing touchdowns and one interception in 5 appearances.

Locke has potential, but Van Dyke simply has more experience. It will definitely be interesting to see where Mabrey Mettauer and Nick Evers shake out. Both have incredibly high ceilings, and Evers is a freak athlete. However, neither is proven.

If I had to guess what the depth chart looks like by week one, it'd be as follows:

  • QB1: Tyler Van Dyke
  • QB2: Braedyn Locke
  • QB3: Nick Evers
  • QB4: Mabrey Mettauer (taking a redshirt year)

There's still plenty of time for things to shake out, and it already seems like football is right around the corner. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.