Wisconsin Football: No Its Not Time for Jack Coan at QB

Badger of Honor has noticed some Wisconsin fans calling for Jack Coan to start at QB for the Wisconsin Badgers

Redshirt sophomore QB Alex Hornibrook is entrenched as the Wisconsin starting QB. But that has not quieted calls for true freshman Jack Coan to get some opportunities under center.

Jack Coan certainly has some upside for the future. It’s not time for Wisconsin to turns the keys over to the unproven and untested first year QB.

I get the grass is always greener mentality. I have a toddler and guess what happens when he is holding a toy and I pick up a different one? With Hornibrook having some rough outings I get the temptation to look longingly towards Coan.

Alex Hornibrook has had both accuracy and turnover issues. Yet he’s clearly the best option to keep Wisconsin’s undefeated season alive. The redshirt sophomore actually has okay numbers for the 2017 season thus far.

After all, he ranks 11th in the country in passing efficiency and 8th in yards per attempt. Hornibrook is even tied for 24th in NCAA football with a 64.3 percent completion percentage. He’s tied for 41st with 13 passing touchdowns.

I get the negatives. He takes some sacks by holding on to the ball and his immobility means he can’t extend plays or escape pressure. In addition, he’s thrown eight interceptions (not all his fault) which is third most among rated Big Ten QBs.

There are the same issues we’ve discussed previously about his lack of arm strength and misreading defenses. However, he is in his third year in Madison learning the offense. He’s already played in 20 games. Hornibrook was nearly perfect against BYU on the road.

Now that’s not to say Jack Coan won’t have a role to play sooner rather than later for Wisconsin. A few months ago, Badger of Honor tabbed him as a “breakout candidate” for 2017. That was more in the case of emergency if Hornibrook got hurt or untenable performance problems.

But I think it’s premature and a little reckless even to think Wisconsin should trust a first year player with its undefeated season. Hornibrook has been the starter and has the reps with the regular first strong OL and receivers.

The Badgers are playing for a College Football Playoff spot. Given the dominant Badger defense, bucky needs merely a caretaker not a game breaker at QB. With game upcoming against Iowa and Michigan (and The Ohio State in the title game), starting a true freshman early enrollee in Coan is a gamble Wisconsin doesn’t need to take.