More camp news from Madison, Wisconsin, as the Badgers continue fall camp.
Starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. was out with a knee injury. The Badgers suffered a similar fate last season when starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke suffered a torn ACL against Alabama.
Although Edwards Jr. has done enough to prove himself as the starter, the competition for backup is neck and neck. The battle is between the two transfers in Danny O'Neil from San Diego State and Hunter Simmons from Southern Illinois.
When asked about the position battle in the quarterback room, head coach Luke Fickell stated how it’s important to put guys through tough in-game situations and see how they handle it , according to Dillon Graff from Wisconsin Badgers on SI. The staff achieved this in the open practice that the team had on August 9th. Fickell also said that he liked both guys, and that with more time, a final decision would be on the horizon.
However, there is still another quarterback in the mix for the backup position. Freshman Carter Smith, a four-star recruit who can provide the program with some longevity at the position for the future. Badgers offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes and Fickell mentioned that they could redshirt Smith to help with his development in the offense. This would give him a year learn how to play at the next level and dig deep in the playbook.
For a team that has dealt with injuries at the quarterback position, it is a good sign to have a strong competition and depth, saving them from having to rely on the transfer portal.
Wisconsin opens the season at home against Miami (OH) on Thursday, August 28 (9 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network).
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