Scouting Report: Wisconsin Badgers Quarterback Nick Evers

Madison, Wis. — The first big domino to fall for Luke Fickell after becoming the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers was landing Oklahoma transfer quarterback Nick Evers. 

“I’ve always wanted a guy that can move,” Fickell told reporters. “It doesn’t mean he’s got to be a running quarterback, but if you can’t extend things if you can’t make things happen with your athleticism, I think it limits you.”

pic.twitter.com/LUztLIprA2

— nicco (@NickEvers12) December 17, 2022

Evers, a former four-star QB prospect from Flower Mound High School, finished his decorated prep career throwing for 4,944 yards and 40 touchdowns through the air. He added another 915 yards rushing for 15 scores on the ground across two seasons as a starter, according to MaxPreps. 

To help put his talent in perspective, the Texas native would have been Wisconsin’s No. 2 highest-rated QB recruit in school history, according to the 247Sports database.

Most importantly, the 6-foot-3 signal-caller has four years of eligibility, making him a perfect long-term play for the program. 

Let’s look at what the Wisconsin Badgers are getting in the former top-10 QB prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. 

Nick Evers Scouting Report

After years of saying the Wisconsin Badgers were just a “QB away” from taking the next step – UW now has a plethora of talent in the pipeline, perhaps none more intriguing than Nick Evers.

In Evers, Luke Fickell and Phil Longo are getting a high-upside dual-threat QB with impressive intangibles. He was considered a blue-chip prospect and top 200 talent coming out of high school.

The former four-star recruit has an impressive arm, instincts, and the mobility UW’s coaching staff desires to extend plays and make things happen off-script.

Evers is a capable runner, as well. His film shows someone nimble on his feet and surprisingly elusive in close quarters with defenders. His mobility is even more dangerous when you pair that with his ability to keep the offense humming by pushing the ball down the field.

What stands out most is his quick release and how the ball jumps off his hand. Arm talent is an overused term, but the strength he throws with using minimal effort is an 8.5-9 out of 10, IMO.

Evers throwing motion is a little unorthodox, coming off a little low to high, but it isn’t a concern for me, considering how fundamental he is with his footwork. He plays tall in the pocket, can improvise, throw darts, use different arm slots, and, most importantly, throw accurately and with touch.

Day Uno !! @BadgerFootball pic.twitter.com/4Qmw2ICKRT

— nicco (@NickEvers12) March 25, 2023

I want to clarify; I’m not suggesting that Evers will become any of the following players, but his HUDL film reminds me of Desmond Ridder, Jalen Hurts, and at times, Kyler Murray. They’re each unique talents that get the job done — so who cares what it looks like.

The Impact of Nick Evers Addition to the Wisconsin Badgers 

On paper – Nick Evers’ gunslinger mentality and playing style meshes perfectly with the offense coach Fickell and Phil Longo intend on running at Wisconsin.

“We were not at all happy with where the quarterback room was when we got here, just evaluating it,” Longo said. “We wanted a QB that was talented enough to do specific things in the system, and we felt like we needed to go to the portal to get that.”

The offensive system he ran in high school and at Oklahoma had plenty of similarities to Longo’s air raid – so stylistically – it makes a ton of sense.

Last season Evers appeared in just one game with the Sooners, so he is still unproven and is all upside at this point. His potential – however, is through the roof, and I’m not suggesting he’ll get there – but he has program-elevating potential at QB if everything breaks right.

Additionally, SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai’s addition allows Evers, a redshirt freshman, the necessary time to develop and learn from a sixth-year veteran before battling for the Wisconsin Badgers starting job in 2024.

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