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Alex Hornibrook shows he’s one of the best at Manning Passing Academy

By Tanner Nestle

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: Quarterback Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers looks to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first quarter of the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: Quarterback Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers looks to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first quarter of the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Alex Hornibrook won the Air It Out competition at the Manning Passing Academy over the weekend.

One of the premier football camps in the nation is the Manning Passing Academy put on by the Manning family. Alex Hornibrook attended this year as a camp counselor and wowed onlookers with his performance. As the camp came to a close, the counselors showed their skills. Hornibrook won the Air It Out competition by hitting 3/3 moving golf carts. The task sounds much easier than it is.

Others attempted, and failed, to recreate what Hornibrook did. Notable quarterbacks such as Jake Fromm (Georgia), Trace McSorely (Penn State), Jalen Hurts (Alabama) and Jarrett Stidham (Auburn) were not able to hit all three carts.

The skill of hitting golf carts with a football isn’t necessarily a translatable skill, nor is it a reason to launch Hornibrook to the top of quarterback lists, but it’s a reason to start recognizing him as one of the best quarterbacks in the country. There are quarterbacks who have proven more than Hornibrook, but also those that have proven much less. Hornibrook doesn’t seem to get the respect he deserves.

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Being able to win this simple competition is the kind of thing Georgia and Penn State fans will shrug off as nonsense, since their quarterback didn’t win it. But the fact here is simple: Alex Hornibrook proved he could do something those others couldn’t. It’s the first step in introducing Hornibrook’s talents to the rest of the college football world. If, and when, he has a great season, those who paid attention to this won’t be surprised.

Hornibrook will be the key to taking Wisconsin’s offense from great to elite. College football has pretty much accepted that Jonathan Taylor and the Wisconsin offensive line will produce a great running game. If the Badgers want to score at a pace we haven’t seen since 2011, Hornibrook is going to need to step his game up.

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If what he showed at the Manning Passing Academy is any sign of things to come, Hornibrook is going to be outdoing himself quite a bit in 2018. Badger fans have themselves a good one.