All eyes are on the quarterback at Wisconsin. It's been the Achilles' heel for Luke Fickell during his tenure at Wisconsin. He hasn't had a full season as the starting quarterback since he arrived in Madison. He's tired of it, but this year he hedged the room even more than last season. He's put pieces together where the game plan doesn't drop off after the first, second, or even third quarterback goes down.
In an interview with the Big Ten Network, Fickell said the biggest difference between last year and this year is the quarterback room. "The best growth and the difference in our program is the quarterback room...The ability to have more guys in there, just in case...there's a competitiveness in that room with a few other guys that have been brought in that looks different than it has been."
Fickell did try to stack that room last season with Billy Edwards Jr. and Danny O'Neil, but then both went down. And honestly, neither were all that great to start with. Fickell has done a remarkable job of making that room better, or at least better on paper. Yet spring is also telling the tale.
"Some of the best growth and difference in our program right now is the quarterback room."
— Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) May 1, 2026
HC Luke Fickell on @BadgerFootball’s QB room depth and transfer Colton Joseph 👇#B1GToday pic.twitter.com/3Is2uTg2Xk
Luke Fickell identifies Colton Joseph as the biggest jump from the start to end of spring
At the end of that interview segment, Fickell also says that Joseph shows the greatest growth among all the players from the start to the end of spring ball. He's learned a new system, picked up leadership, and gets through his reads a lot quicker than when he first came in. Fickell said, "I think more than anything, Colton is a guy that when you watched the beginning of spring ball to the end of spring ball...he's had the greatest growth this entire spring, his best was at the end."
This is encouraging news to hear, and the news about true freshman Ryan Hopkins getting reps with the No. 2 unit because he continues to impress. Or even Deuce Adams as a guy that can really handle the load and run the offense. There's just a depth to this room that hasn't been there since Fickell arrived.
Hopefully, he doesn't need any of the backups, but Fickell has them there if he needs them. The quarterback room is exciting and Joseph continues to lead the hype train. Wisconsin fans better buckle up because everything we've seen from Joseph in the spring is thrilling.
Add us as a preferred source on Google