ESPN went through and ranked all 138 FBS college football quarterback rooms. Every program was funneled into a tier, and Wisconsin received almost zero love from the article. The Badger quarterback room fell into the tier titled, "Everyone gets lucky sometimes." Wisconsin was joined by Iowa, Arkansas, Boston College, and Rutgers. Not the tier you want to be in.
However, ESPN's worry with Wisconsin's quarterback room has more to do with Luke Fickell than it does Colton Joseph. If anything, there seems to be some praise for Joseph, but the worry about how it will shake out lands on Fickell.
Wisconsin's quarterback room listed as "lucky sometimes" by ESPN
Related: 4 exciting recruits coming to Wisconsin for the first major official visit weekend
It starts with, "Well, the good news for folks at Rutgers, Iowa, Wisconsin, or Boston College is that there's really nowhere to go for the offense but up." Which may actually be underselling how terrible the Badgers were on offense last season. Literally, the bottom of the pile for Power 4 programs.
For Wisconsin specifically, ESPN thinks the problem is with Fickell. "No player with at least 250 passes in the past two seasons averaged more air yards per throw in a season than Joseph last year (11.91). Under Luke Fickell, Wisconsin ranks 111th in air yards per attempt nationally (7.6)."
In other words, the two worlds collide. The best thrower in terms of air yards per throw fell into a program that had the absolute worst air yards per throw last year. Which will win out?
ESPN may be missing out on the reality that last season, Wisconsin was rotating through a collection of quarterbacks with zero continuity. Add in the fact that the offensive line was also a bit of a trainwreck. The quarterback can't get the ball in the air when he has no time to let his receivers get open. He also can't do it when he's not very good.
The Badgers' best passer last year in terms of yards was Hunter Simmons. If you remember, Simmons wasn't meant to play at all last year; he wasn't even a starter at Southern Illinois before he transferred in. Then it was Danny O'Neil who took 14 sacks in his only six games. Followed by true freshman Carter Smith.
So, the situation may be better than what ESPN is saying, but it's hard to know. Is Fickell the problem? Is Joseph the solution? Will the two end up being a match made in heaven? That's the hope.
Add us as a preferred source on Google