This Wisconsin Football The team has been without a point guard for two straight years after Tyler Van Dyke was sidelined with a knee injury.
The injured starter was replaced by Braedyn Locke, who played Tanner Mordecai last season after surgery. Locke didn’t have the best showing last season, but he also had an offense that struggled with him. Locke and his receivers in particular struggled to connect, as drops were a major issue.
Prayers for my boy Tyler! Let’s get you back there photo:twitter.com/Z9yrvsaajB
— Mabrey Mettauer (@MabreyMettauer) September 14, 2024
With Locke now back in the starting role and Van Dyke unlikely to return this season, the Wisconsin coaching staff has begun preparing freshman Mabrey Mettauer.
Mettauer, a Texas native, signed with Wisconsin as a three-star recruit in the 2024 recruiting class. Mettauer was the only scholarship quarterback for Wisconsin, which also added Milos Spasojevic as a preferred backup. Redshirt freshman Cole Lacrue is a member of the 2023 recruiting class but will serve as a third-string backup going forward.
Earlier, the Wisconsin football staff held “open” tryouts for the starting quarterback. However, the staff quickly devolved into a competition between Locke and Van Dyke for the starting role. Mettauer was moved to a third-string role and has had very restricted practice participation since then.
However, with Van Dyke’s injury, coach Luke Fickell said “he’s going to have to be ready,” referring to Mettauer.
Wisconsin Football Readies Quarterback Mabrey Mettauer to Continue Playing
Injuries are a terrible thing in sports and no one wants an injury to happen, but when it does happen, there is always lithe at the end of the tunnel.
With Van Dyke out for the entire year and likely to file for reserve duty, Mettauer has the chance to become the reserve quarterback. Not only does the role put Mettauer closer to the field, but the quarterback will also have a lot more practice time going forward.
That’s key from a developmental perspective for Mettauer, but it’s also key from a chemistry perspective. Over the past two seasons, Wisconsin football has struggled with drops and separation, which has weakened the passing game.
While it could be a personnel issue that has led to this trend, it could also be a lack of stability in the quarterbacks room. Quarterbacks are an extension of the coach on the field, and just as multiple coaching changes can affect a team, quarterback changes can affect a team as well.
Mettauer is a true freshman and barring any changes, he will have four years to work in the Wisconsin football receiver room. Giving Mettauer a chance this early in his career to put in more time, get more reps and work with the first team should do wonders for his development.
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