Wisconsin QB Colton Joseph has found his stride within Luke Fickell's offense

Arguably the biggest story of the Wisconsin Badgers’ offseason was the acquisition of quarterback Colton Joseph. The former Old Dominion standout was Luke Fickell and Co.’s top target of the offseason, as his multifaceted skill set gave the Badgers the luxury of having a dual-threat quarterback who better fit the newly implemented system.

At face value, it was a match made in heaven, as Fickell finally had the QB he had been looking for, and Joseph now had the platform to prove that he was capable of making an impact at the highest level. But things didn’t get off to a great start.

A rocky Week 1 and Week 2 for the Wisconsin newcomer left many fans in doubt as to whether the program had made the right investment this offseason. Some even questioned whether backup Ryan Hopkins should take over for some reps.

In retrospect, a lot of those conversations were a bit reactionary and wildly disingenuous, as it only took three games for Joseph to finally find his stride.

After a rocky first quarter against Eastern Michigan, he kicked things into top gear, completing 23 of his 33 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns. He also tacked on 46 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground, further cementing this as his best dual-threat outing to date.

What Changed?

It wasn’t just a stroke of luck that allowed Joseph to produce the way he did either. Rather, it was a culmination of both a more ambitious set of play calls and built chemistry with his receivers making its way onto the field.

The story of the receiving corps has, of course, been Tyrell Henry, who broke the Badgers’ single-game reception record (14) en route to a 160-yard, one-touchdown outing. However, it wasn’t just him who got involved, as two other Wisconsin pass catchers finished the game with over 80 yards.

Chris Brooks Jr., being one of the two, has really emerged this year as a big-time receiving threat, which has come as a pleasant surprise. He was always known for being a great blocker and dirty-work kind of guy, but his ability to both separate and create after the catch has been impressive. He finished with three catches for 91 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown.

The other pass catcher with over 80 yards was tight end Jacob Harris. Following the buzz he had picked up from camp, many fans had been underwhelmed by his lack of activity through the first two weeks of the season, a notion he dispelled this past week.

Now, moving forward, Joseph has to continue to exploit the resources he has been given, along with continuing to progress his own game. As the season goes on, he will only build more trust and connection within his staff and receiver corps, meaning that, in order to maximize his situation, Joseph will have to clear up the inconsistency issues.

Doing so will open up the offense and give this team the chance to be its best version of itself, possibly revitalizing what were otherwise gloomy times in Madison.

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