Right, but with who?
Unless I am missing something/someone, the Badgers have 3 freshman QB's behind Locke.
The only 1 with actual game experience (in college) is Mabrey Mettauer. He came in for mop up duty against Purdue, threw 1 pass, for 2 yards.
Otherwise, they have RS Freshman Cole LaCrue and true freshman Milos Spasojevic.
Mabrey would be the next man up, but the only reason I would want to see him play is if it was for next season. However, I also want to see the Badgers win 1 of their last 2 to become Bowl eligible. That gives them more practice time and another game, to improve for 2025. Sadly, their best chance to do that, is with Locke.
I get people wanting a change at QB, but come on guys, who?
Exactly the point. Mettauer is absolutely not ready to be the QB. He will need at least one more year of learning, now that the system is going to change. But, in the right direction with the system, and Locke could make it through the rest of the year, and actually prove himself capable of running the program.
LaCrue is never going to be the Badger QB. He knows that. He's spending time learning how to play QB, and is a fall back plan in case there are too many injuries, nothing more. I think he'll be playing somewhere else next year, at a lower level, and get a chance to do something with what talent he has. Spasojevic is a reach, and that's about it. He's pretty much using the Badgers as a place to learn, just like LaCrue. I think he'll be gone next year as well.
I watched a couple of Loche's games on TV down here, in HS. He was good, in fact darned good when they run a pro set. But, his brother is a question mark. A super talent, but I have a hunch he's going to change his commit if things don't work out for Braedyn. Kind of a family thing. Mettauer is a super talent, but needs to learn a lot of things. He's a hard runner, but isn't fast, or even close to it. He is a pocket passer, plain and simple. I think his best 40 time in HS was in the 5.6 range in the 40, and that's slower than a snail for the game. But, he's strong, and will probably play at about 6-4, 225/235# range, and be able to break tackles, so not easy to bring down. Kind of like a slower version of Favre, running. I saw him play quite a few times over the years. He was a district offensive player of the year in his sophomore year, and that's in a district that churns out top quality players.
If Locke can't show he's got it the rest of the year, with the new system, they're going to be finding NIL money to slap on the table to lure a top level QB into Madison for next season. They may actually do it anyway. I believe this team is a QB away from being in the top 3 or 4 in this conference, and in the hunt for a conference championship.
