Wisconsin Football: Breakout Candidate Jack Coan
Badger of Honor will look at Wisconsin Football players to watch as “breakout” candidates for the 2017 Wisconsin Football season
Alex Hornibrook clearly enters the 2017 Wisconsin Football season as the expected starting quarterback. It’s his job to lose and barring injury or disastrous play he should be the guy under center for the duration of the Wisconsin Football season.
But keep an eye on Jack Coan, a freshman from Sayville, New York. He’s my pick to be the top backup to Hornibrook for the 2017 Wisconsin Football season.
Wisconsin Football lists Coan as 6’3″ 199 pounds meaning he can probably add a few more pounds of muscle to his frame to help with durability and perhaps arm strength.
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He also has an impressive bio as a recruit with a lacrosse background indicating a strong overall athletic profile.
"Four-star prospect by Rivals … three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Scout…named New York Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior…selected as state co-player of the year in Class A by New York State Sportswriters Association as a junior and senior … three-time first-team all-state selection"
He rushed for 2,551 yards in his high school career. That mobility should help him see the field earlier for Wisconsin Football. If nothing else, the Badgers can give him a package of plays designed to utilize that running ability whether its a zone-read play or roll outs.
However, the Badgers may not have to limit Coan’s play calls. He was an early enrollee given him the advantage of having gone through spring ball with Wisconsin Football. That should help his transition to the pace of college football including mastering the playbook.
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At present, Wisconsin Football only has three other quarterbacks on its roster. Hornibrook, Coan, and freshman Kare Lyles. Coan was definitely the more impressive of the freshman QBs in the spring game. A little over two years ago, Sports Illustrated wrote a piece about Coan intrigued by his transition from lacrosse to football recruit from a region not known as fertile football recruiting ground.
You can check out a highlight video below:
The negatives are pretty typical for a young QB. Beyond the first throw you don’t see examples of Coan looking off the secondary. He stares down his receiving targets. There also aren’t examples of Coan throwing a pure fastball. Experience could improve both.
The positives are enough arm strength, fastball or not, to hit targets outside the numbers and especially down the seam. He throws with nice touch, accuracy, and at times, anticipation to connect with his receivers.
Keep an eye on the QB depth chart for Wisconsin Football as the season evolves, especially Jack Coan as the next man up.