Alex Hornibrook to enter transfer portal
Alex Hornibrook, Wisconsin’s starting QB the last three seasons, has entered the NCAA transfer portal, per source
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 27, 2019
Interesting that he's entering the transfer portal after starting for 3 years at Wisconsin. Maybe he saw the writing on the wall that it's Graham Mertz's job to lose? Hornibrook is solid but unspectacular and has a propensity to throw INTs. He would be useful as a bridge QB for teams who need help at QB.
February 27th, 2019 at 3:50 PM ^
Godspeed to Hornibrook as he enters the Transfer Portal.
February 27th, 2019 at 3:55 PM ^
Is Graham Mertz any good?
February 27th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
Yeah, he's pretty good. He lit it up in the All-American Bowl, too.
February 27th, 2019 at 8:40 PM ^
Graham Mertz looked pretty incredible during the AA game. He looked like a future high draft choice.
I would still be surprised if he beat out Hornibrook and three years of starting experience. This seems odd.
February 27th, 2019 at 3:57 PM ^
I'm sure he'll be able to hand the ball to Johnathan Taylor just fine.
February 27th, 2019 at 4:02 PM ^
I think he's the only QB that Jim liked more than McNamara last cycle. He's really good. He will also be a true freshman with mediocre receivers, so it's not likely that he will be really good next year (especially in week 4 when we play them).
February 28th, 2019 at 7:47 AM ^
Don't they have the kid from Ohio, a true freshman wr from last year? One of many that'll come back to haunt Urban Meyer,AD, osu athletic department.
I take it no one has a problem with Harbaugh relying on others to develop the most important position on your team, the QB. You would think a coach would want his finger prints all over the 1 position you want to be the program identifier so to speak?
February 27th, 2019 at 4:06 PM ^
Clearly better than what they already have. He's been on campus all of a month now
February 27th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
His mediocre play aside, I think Hornibrook would be best served going elsewhere for his final year. He's shown that he can be a decent QB in a traditional, pro-style offense, but he doesn't have many weapons to work with, and Wisconsin QBs aren't known for developing into guys who earn a lot of draft potential. (Except Russell Wilson, who was a rental.)
It's really not a bad plan to go to a place like Wisconsin, get some playing time, and then go somewhere as an upperclassman that's going to show off your skills.
February 27th, 2019 at 4:34 PM ^
I think he's going pro in something other than sports. His decision should be based on that reality.
February 27th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
Unpopular opinion: Hornibrook is actually a decent quarterback.
February 27th, 2019 at 4:01 PM ^
Agree
February 27th, 2019 at 4:04 PM ^
It's not just unpopular, it's wrong!
February 27th, 2019 at 4:06 PM ^
He certainly was the better quarterback on the field against us at Camp Randall in 2017. That inch perfect throw at the end of the third quarter kinda told me it was not going to end well.
February 27th, 2019 at 7:38 PM ^
That is a low effin' bar right there.
February 27th, 2019 at 4:01 PM ^
Where my brain defaults when I see the words "transfer portal"
February 27th, 2019 at 4:43 PM ^
....my brain goes this way....
February 27th, 2019 at 4:03 PM ^
He's from Pennsylvania, I could see him maybe transferring to Pitt. Otherwise a MAC school? I'm not really sure what his other options would be. There aren't a ton of schools running pro style offenses right now.
February 27th, 2019 at 11:26 PM ^
Nolan Ulizio protecting Alex Hornibrook's blind side?
Now there's a movie waiting to be written.
February 27th, 2019 at 4:04 PM ^
Sounds like he was about to get passed. Perhaps he was told by the staff that he wouldn't be the first one under center in spring practice.
It's not clear that there's an obvious landing spot for him. He was ok; he wasn't great. A one-year guy like that doesn't tick a lot of boxes in big-time programs.
February 27th, 2019 at 4:18 PM ^
He had some teammate/personal issues with David Edwards (Wisky OL). When Paul Chryst spoke at the Big Red Rally, he never mentioned Hornibrook. The writing was on the wall.
Hornibrook releases this statement via Instagram.... #Badgers pic.twitter.com/WuT6m2p6me
— ESPN Madison (@ESPNMadison) February 27, 2019
February 27th, 2019 at 4:37 PM ^
Wow, didn't know that. Hardcore stuff from Chryst.
I wonder why he waited so long. Academics, perhaps--his statement says he's finishing his degree first. In which case, no hurry.
February 28th, 2019 at 2:32 PM ^
Alex was very HORNYbrook. It really deRAILED their season.
He entered a PORTAL he shouldn't have. Now he is entering the transfer portal.
If you catch my drift.
February 27th, 2019 at 4:05 PM ^
Guess Wisconsin will be starting a true freshman QB
February 27th, 2019 at 4:13 PM ^
4 year starter Hornibrook vs true freshman phenom in his 3rd ever college game....
I think I like our chances better with this development. Although it's close.
February 27th, 2019 at 4:19 PM ^
I don't think it matters because Hornibrook was awful in every game he played against Michigan sans one perfect throw a couple years ago.
February 27th, 2019 at 4:14 PM ^
Doesn't matter who their QB is. The man's job will be the same no matter what: hand the ball off to Jonathan Taylor, and the 15-20 times a game they ask you to pass, don't screw things up.
February 27th, 2019 at 11:25 PM ^
It's funny that against Michigan, Chryst stopped giving the ball to Taylor in the 2nd half after Taylor was averaging 7 ypc in the first half which is mind boggling.
February 27th, 2019 at 4:22 PM ^
Graham Mertz must have better hand off technique.
February 27th, 2019 at 8:31 PM ^
Robert Kraft is the best judge of that
February 27th, 2019 at 9:53 PM ^
I heard Kraft prefers a more hands on approach.
February 27th, 2019 at 4:35 PM ^
Zero Jack Coan hype?
February 27th, 2019 at 4:39 PM ^
Word here in Madison is that Hornibrook's concussion before their bowl game was a result of him getting punched by one of his offensive linemen because Hornibrook had hooked up with said lineman's girlfriend. Would make sense to transfer if you'd just made yourself a locker room pariah, I guess.
February 27th, 2019 at 5:05 PM ^
Yeah, me thinks that pocket protection would conveniently and consistently break down under such circumstances. Protip: QB's should never hook up with your starting OL's girlfriend.
February 27th, 2019 at 6:00 PM ^
Yeah, that shit only flies at Michigan State.
February 27th, 2019 at 9:29 PM ^
come on, olineman. his name basically has "horny" in it. it's in his blood
February 27th, 2019 at 4:40 PM ^
BTW in other QB news Johnny Manziel just got kicked out of the CFL. So there's that.
February 27th, 2019 at 5:31 PM ^
Is Manziel in the transfer portal??
February 27th, 2019 at 6:42 PM ^
Literally LOL’d at that one. ?
February 27th, 2019 at 4:56 PM ^
Yeah, I find this one a bit surprising. Not that I follow Wisconsin recruiting or depth chart battles that closely, but is there a battle for starting QB in Madison? As Wisconsin QBs go, I thought Hornibrook was at least serviceable.
February 28th, 2019 at 6:48 PM ^
He was a slight tick more serviceable than O'Korn...not by much-nevertheless, a slight tick.
February 27th, 2019 at 5:26 PM ^
Just imagine the board meltdown if he somehow won that competition.
February 27th, 2019 at 7:41 PM ^
February 27th, 2019 at 9:29 PM ^
thoughts and prayers
February 28th, 2019 at 12:08 AM ^
This is why the Portal sucks! There is no way in hell why he shouldn’t be the starting QB at Wiscy. The Portal is making it easy for Schools to kick players to the curb, and that’s exactly what schools are doing. You would be surprised at the shit these schools are doing to players to make sure they enter the Portal sooner then later. Gain the scholly back and still offer education.
February 28th, 2019 at 9:28 AM ^
Read above mate, might be some extenuating circumstances...