Wisconsin QB making a major splash at spring ball but there's a catch

There's one player that continues to dazzle reporters in spring practices, and it's a player that shouldn't and probably won't even play next season. True freshman quarterback Ryan Hopkins has been wowing with his play in spring, and people are starting to take notice. It's not just one beat reporter that's pounding the drum for Hopkins being special; it's literally all of them.

Below you will see social media posts from three of the most prominent Wisconsin reporters and insiders talking about Hopkins from today. There's also Mark Stewart's article here, which highlights Hopkins dazzle today in practice. The young quarterback is starting to turn heads, and yet, the catch, he hopefully won't have to show Wisconsin fans during the season next year.

Ryan Hopkins is a special quarterback and he's already showing it off as a freshman

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The crazy part about Hopkins being the special player is that he's almost assuredly going to redshirt this season. He's buried on the depth chart, or at least he was supposed to be. Wisconsin brought in Colton Joseph to be the starting quarterback. A dual-threat QB who was incredibly impressive at Old Dominion last season. Then Luke Fickell added Deuce Adams as the backup quarterback from Louisville.

There's still Carter Smith, who ended up playing multiple games last season due to quarterback injuries. Smith is considered to be competing with Adams for the backup spot, but many assume he will fall into the third position on the depth chart. Where does that leave Hopkins? Still, most likely redshirting, yet his play during spring has many wondering whether he shouldn't find reps this season.

Oh, did we mention that Danny O'Neil (last year's backup quarterback) is also on the roster, though he may miss time from the injury that cost him most of last season. Yet, he's going to factor into the depth chart at some point this season.

Yet, a wealth of quarterbacks is exactly what Fickell needs. He's yet to have a year without his starting quarterback getting injured at Wisconsin. Last year, he played every single scholarship quarterback he had because of injuries. It won't hurt to have Joseph, Adams, Smith, O'Neil, and even Hopkins all capable if called upon.

At the end of the day, Hopkins is young but is starting to look like the quarterback of the future. Let him redshirt and then compete for the starting or backup job next season.

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