Apr 11, 2023; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) is shown during practice Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Why Wisconsin Football QB Tanner Mordecai is the Missing Piece of the Puzzle
Ever since the Russell Wilson and Scott Tolzien seasons over a decade ago, Wisconsin football fans have longed for more than a game-managing quarterback under center. I also like to include 2019 Jack Coan in this group, but I digress.
The BadgerManiac did a compelling case study dating back to 2003 that charted passing efficiency numbers, TD/INT ratio, and yards per attempt that suggest UW QB play hasn’t been as terrible as the man at the bar would have you believe — and overall, I agree with his assessment. Production is all relative to the system they’re playing in and who you’re comparing them to.
However, Wisconsin will need more from their QB1 to elevate the program in a more pass-happy ‘dairy raid’ offense under Phil Longo, one of the nation’s most accomplished offensive coordinators.
Last season, the Badgers finished No. 91 in the country in total offense (363.6 yards per game) and No. 77 in scoring offense (26.3 points) — but there is one major reason Wisconsin football fans should feel confident in a quick turnaround — the missing piece of the puzzle if you will — SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai.
Why Tanner Mordecai Could Be the Badgers Missing Piece of the Puzzle
Turnovers can be a killer when you’re a low-possession team like UW has traditionally been. The running game also takes a hit when the offense can’t push the ball downfield effectively.
No matter how you felt about Graham Mertz, Wisconsin football upgraded at the position this offseason. Mertz averaged 7.0 yards per attempt for his career, roughly the 20-year Big Ten average from starting QBs. He also registered a career 127.7 QB rating (140+ is average) and had 29 touchdowns with 21 interceptions the past two seasons.
Compare that to Tanner Mordecai, who has an 8.1 yards per attempt average for his career, which is more in line with Ohio State QBs in the last two decades. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound signal-caller also has a career 155.7 QB rating, plus he threw for 72 touchdowns and had 22 interceptions the past two seasons.
For reference, Mordecai’s passing total of 7,152 yards in the last two seasons at SMU would place him at No. 4 all-time in career passing yards at Wisconsin — he can sling the rock.
I fully acknowledge that he faced lower-level competition at SMU, but Mordecai was also considered a fringe NFL prospect. He’s had success playing in a similar spread type of system and is a more accomplished passer than Mertz.
When you consider that Wisconsin football returns 72% of its total production from 2022, the third most in the Big Ten, and also mix in a top 10 transfer portal class, I think there’s plenty of reason to believe the Badgers will find their way back to Indianapolis this season.
Final Thoughts on Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin Football Program
Fair or not, much of the Wisconsin football program’s success in year one of Luke Fickell’s tenure hinges on the one-year rental of Tanner Mordecai.
Under Phil Longo, his starting QBs have a five-year average of 3,704 passing yards per season. Remember, only one Wisconsin Badgers QB (Russell Wilson in 2011) has ever passed for more than 3,000 yards in a single season.
This offense will be vastly different from what you’re used to seeing.
“I think he’s the top offensive guy in college football and in the NFL,” SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai told UW reporters. “And, you know, that’s a big reason why I am here in a really successful offense.”
Going from a ground and pound, four yards, and a cloud of dust offense to the spread normally takes a transition period. However, UW returns core players at offensive line, running back, and wide receiver. Then you add Mordecai (the missing piece) and a slew of talent transfer portal additions, giving Wisconsin football the necessary components to hit the ground running and lay the groundwork for the years ahead.
The new regime gets a talented QB1 with experience and pedigree who can run their new offense and elevate the passing attack on day one – while kickstarting a new era of Wisconsin Badgers football.
It also allows for talented transfer portal additions Braedyn Locke and Nick Evers, both of which were four-star QBs and are redshirt freshmen, time to develop and learn from a sixth-year veteran. Win-Win.
Sep 10, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers logo on a flag prior to the game against the Washington State Cougars at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Wisconsin Badgers football team enters their bye week with a 3-1 overall record. I’m sure many fans hoped and expected the Badgers to be 4-0 heading into the bye, but 3-1 is still a pretty good start. With a victory over Purdue last Friday, the Badgers are already 1/5 of the way to being bowl-eligible, so there’s that too.
We are just getting into conference play and the Wisconsin football team is already at the top of the standings. They are currently the only team in the west division that doesn’t have a conference loss.
The Gophers lost an embarrassing game to the Northwestern Wildcats in overtime after being up 31-10 with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.
Nebraska lost to Minnesota in Week 1.
Iowa just got destroyed by Penn State last week, 31-0.
Purdue lost to Wisconsin last week, dropping their conference record to 0-1.
Now, with the Badgers having a bye this week, there’s a situation where the rest of the West will continue to cannibalize and lose games that will give the Wisconsin football team an even larger lead without even playing a game. Right now, the Badgers are sitting pretty well in the division.
Wisconsin Football Stock Report: Stock Down
Bye Weeks
Boo! Bye weeks suck. Having to wait more than two weeks between Wisconsin football games sucks, especially now that their offense started to get rolling. Now there’s a chance the team could lose the rhythm they worked to get into the past few weeks.
On the positive side, if there are any Wisconsin football players who are banged up, this bye week will give them some time to heal up before they play another game.
Wisconsin punter Atticus Bertrams (49) punts for 42 yds during the second quarter of the game against Buffalo on Saturday September 2, 2023 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
The Wisconsin Badgers football program is headed into the bye week on a high note following a 38-17 win over Purdue. The Badgers had some very apparent struggles throughout the first four games of the season, but there was a lot to like about UW’s performance against the Boilermakers.
It doesn’t get talked about nearly enough, but Wisconsin has had some excellent play from the special teams unit thus far. The excitement around the program was at an all-time high for some of the other phases — and I’m certainly not here to blame anyone for that — but we must give credit where it’s due. Wisconsin has some real promise with its special teams, and they deserve some praise.
Special Teams: The Unsung Heroes of Wisconsin Football
Nathanial Vakos
We need to talk about Nathanial Vakos. The former Ohio transfer has undoubtedly been one of the biggest bright spots for Wisconsin through the first four games of the 2023 season.
So far, Vakos has nailed all seven field goal attempts and been perfect on extra-point tries. After his performance against Purdue, where he went 3-for-3 on field goal opportunities and hit three extra point attempts, Vakos earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Against Washington State, Vakos also hit all three of his field goal attempts, with his longest coming in at 49 yards, which remains his longest field goal of the season.
Having a kicker of Vakos’ caliber is a blessing that can’t be understated. While he may not get the most attention due to his role on the special teams, he certainly deserves his flowers for how he has fared through the first four weeks of the 2023 season.
Atticus Bertrams
Another player who doesn’t get enough recognition is Atticus Bertrams. The freshman has quietly put together a solid 2023 season thus far. Through four games, the Australia native has punted 16 times for an average of 42.5 yards per punt. On top of that, Bertrams has only had one punt returned. Last week against Purdue, Bertrams had just two punts, but his longest boot came in at 60 yards, his longest of the season.
Although he is an unheralded member of the special teams, the freshman has been impressive, considering he never punted in a game before the 2023 season. His marks aren’t the most impressive, but there is a solid foundation for the Australian native.
Wisconsin Football WR/Returner Chimere Dike
Though Vakos has been the most impressive player on the special teams — in my opinion — Chimere Dike has done an excellent job on return opportunities.
Dike was impressive during his performance against Purdue, logging returns for 39 and 34 yards. With those marks, Dike is now second in the Big Ten on punt returns, with an average of 9.6 yards per return. On top of that, he’s fourth in the conference on kickoff returns, logging an average of 32 yards per return.
The senior receiver has undoubtedly been one of the biggest bright spots for the Wisconsin football program early in their 2023 campaign. You’d love to see him break off one of his returns for six, and that certainly isn’t out of the question with his skillset.
The special teams unit has played a big role to start the season, and their contributions will continue to be crucial as the season chugs along.
As it stands, the Wisconsin Badgers football team is 3-1 heading into the bye week. UW will take on Rutgers on October 7th in Madison as both teams look to improve to 4-1.
Sep 16, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell prior to the game against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers football team received some good news on the recruiting front Tuesday evening. The coveted Eugene Hilton Jr., a promising 2025 wide receiver hailing from Zionsville, Indiana, made a significant move by narrowing his list of potential schools to six, and the Badgers proudly found their place among them.
As Hilton Jr. looks ahead to his collegiate journey, he’ll weigh his options between a few notable programs. The final six schools in his consideration are Ole Miss, Kentucky, Missouri, Florida International University (FIU), Miami, and our very own University of Wisconsin.
TOP 6 ‼️
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Thanks to all the coaches who have been recruiting me through this process. Where we going 👀 pic.twitter.com/P3Ndhnk0iz
Wisconsin Football Recruiting Still in the Mix for Son of an NFL Pro Bowler
According to the industry-generated composite recruiting rankings, Eugene Hilton Jr. is the No. 393 player in the 2025 cycle, the No. 55 WR, and the No. 4 recruit to hail from Indiana.
Currently, Hilton is considered a three-star recruit and one of the top 2025 pass-catching prospects in the Midwest — and the Badgers would be happy to add him to a verbal commits list that already includes quarterback Landyn Locke and defensive back Remington Moss.
Now, if the name Hilton sounds a tad familiar to Wisconsin football fans, you’re spot on. This dynamic young talent happens to be the offspring of none other than former NFL pro-bowler T.Y. Hilton. During his illustrious NFL career, the elder Hilton made a name for himself with the Indianapolis Colts and the Dallas Cowboys.
With the Badgers making the cut in Hilton Jr.’s selection process, it’s a testament to the allure and potential of Wisconsin football & its ability to attract new talent because of their air raid offense.
As the recruiting process unfolds, all eyes will be on Eugene Hilton Jr. as he evaluates his options. While the path to securing his commitment may be winding, one thing is clear: Wisconsin Badgers football is very much in the running for the talented young wideout.
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