Luke Fickell signaled that Ryan Hopkins is QB2 in the Western Illinois victory

The Wisconsin Badgers’ controlled yet unconvincing victory over Western Illinois left many fans with plenty of questions. From record-low attendance and a fan base in distrust of the coaching staff, it seems as if Badger fans have only grown less encouraged by what the future of the program could be.

With that said, Wisconsin fans were given a glimpse into what the future could look like, with true freshman quarterback Ryan Hopkins getting his first chance on the gridiron. All throughout camp, the buzz around Hopkins had been widely positive, so it was nice to see him get his first chance.

With that said, he was given very limited opportunity, only taking the reins for the team’s final drive once the game was out of reach. Along with that, Hopkins did not get the chance to throw, only showing off the legs, taking three carries for 11 yards.

Prior to his appearance, there were many questions surrounding who will be the backup quarterback, as prior to the outing, both Hopkins and Louisville transfer Deuce Adams were listed as reserves. It still could be the case that, dependent on situation, both could get a shake at it, with Hopkins handling some of the lower-leverage moments, and Adams hopping in if a spot start is needed.

Sign of Whats to Come?

With that said, it is a bit telling that Luke Fickell and Co. were willing to give the first backup reps to the true freshman, possibly hinting at who they are more willing to give reps to. It’s of course more logical to try and develop the guy you are more committed to long term, but doing so this early in the year could be a sign that Hopkins is ahead of schedule.

As of now, there are no plans for a quarterback change in Madison – nor should there be. Starter Colton Joseph has struggled to find his footing early on, an issue that will have to be cleaned up as the schedule ramps up, but for the time being, Wisconsin’s eggs are in his basket.

However, it’s also been no secret that injury issues have plagued the Badger QB room in recent years, and with Joseph being the running threat that he is, there is a solid chance he will have to miss some time. This is of course the last thing anyone wants to see, as losing a starting quarterback to injury throws a wrench into what was already a prove-it year for a lot of the coaching staff.

But it is a little nice to know that the depth behind the starter is stronger than it ever has been in Madison.

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