Wisconsin emerging as a contender for OU QB Caleb Williams
https://twitter.com/on3sports/status/1486092812005396483?s=21
This would be a pretty dramatic shift, as he’s been ticketed by most to Heritage Hall at USC. But apparently he has some sort of relationship with Bobby Engram, current Ravens TE coach and Wisconsin OC candidate. Would seemingly give them the West if the defense is anything like it’s been the last several years.
January 25th, 2022 at 6:02 PM ^
I honestly thought he’d transferred to USC already
January 25th, 2022 at 6:41 PM ^
I thought it had happened like a month ago.
January 25th, 2022 at 9:09 PM ^
The Wisconsin NIL offer must be crazy. And I don't mean it in a bad way. It's simple market economy.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:33 PM ^
Cheese curd economy.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:35 PM ^
Hard to believe they outbid EMU...
January 25th, 2022 at 11:52 PM ^
A million dollars worth of cheese curds is tough to turn down
January 26th, 2022 at 10:47 AM ^
In Wisconsin, $1 million of cheese curds is worth more than $1 million of dollars.
January 26th, 2022 at 11:20 AM ^
There is no NIL offer.
Wisconsin is not buying kids.
January 25th, 2022 at 6:03 PM ^
Nice to finally have them off the 'every year' schedule rotation starting next season.
January 26th, 2022 at 4:26 PM ^
I hate this mentality, I enjoy the harder more competitive games than beating Illinois by 50
January 26th, 2022 at 9:09 PM ^
I enjoying winning, building confidence, and winning championships.
January 25th, 2022 at 6:04 PM ^
I am glad we are not playing them for the next few years. OSU on the other hand...
January 25th, 2022 at 6:12 PM ^
And MSU. I hope he goes there and beats than both.
January 25th, 2022 at 11:01 PM ^
And if that happens, the result is highly likely we'd then see him in Indy vs Michigan.
I'd love to see it.
January 26th, 2022 at 1:01 AM ^
He can and will lose on that day. But it will be the 1st time in some time that the crossovers were not against us.
Or the last time
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sj062vXAns
January 25th, 2022 at 6:04 PM ^
Would be huge for Bucky!
January 25th, 2022 at 6:05 PM ^
Wow imagine being a USC fan right now, especially if this comes to fruition.
January 25th, 2022 at 6:12 PM ^
They do have one of the top guys in the 23 class lined up, and he’s a local. If that’s the case, maybe you take a one year guy (assuming Dart doesn’t return) and roll forward.
January 25th, 2022 at 6:12 PM ^
That would be game changer for them. Not saying the West would finally win the B1G, but that’d put them as the heavy favorite in the West. Him and Allen would be a nightmare to match up against to go along with a typically stout D.
January 25th, 2022 at 6:19 PM ^
This makes no sense for Caleb. Their offense has always been built around a solid run game and the forward pass is for 3rd and long, and they recruit like that.
January 25th, 2022 at 6:55 PM ^
Wisconsin has averaged 10.5th place out of 14 big ten teams, in terms of passing yards per game the past few years
2021 #13
2020 #13
2019 #10
2018 #12
2017 #8
2016 #9
2015 #7
2014 #12
January 25th, 2022 at 7:27 PM ^
It's bizarre. The only thing I can think of that would even put this on the radar is Russell Wilson's one great year there. Otherwise I don't know why he'd even think of going there.
Because of how implausible this seems, I have a hard time believing there are any real legs to this.
January 26th, 2022 at 1:05 AM ^
And even that year, Wilson had more than 200 fewer attempts than the previous year and fewer yards. He was incredibly efficient and their run game sets passers up to do that, but seems like Williams would want to be more prolific as well.
I believe that he has a relationship with this potential OC and he might be interested to hear what Chryst might allow this guy to do, but I don't see this as any more than pumping up the NIL price.
January 25th, 2022 at 8:47 PM ^
I’m with you, this makes no sense. Go to the warmth and sun of Southern California to play in an offense that was tailor made for your skills and be a Heisman candidate immediately OR go to Wisconsin and hand the ball off 50 times a game. With that said, I would like to see him in a Badger uniform.
January 26th, 2022 at 12:17 PM ^
Maybe he values winning, and it would hardly shock me if UW plus Williams has a better year than SC rebuild year 1. Idk, this isn't that perplexing to me.
January 26th, 2022 at 9:31 AM ^
Smart QBs appreciate a strong running game. Look at Harbaugh and Brady, for examples. I believe Wisconsin wants the best of both worlds by being more balanced, and that's what they were hoping to get with Mertz. That didn't work out. With a better QB they could pass more often but still be run-heavy and not allow defenses to cheat one way or the other.
edit: Paul Chryst, QB.
January 26th, 2022 at 12:32 PM ^
Worked out pretty well for Russell Wilson. I don't know that every kid wants to throw the ball every down so much as they want to be a significant part of a winning team. They run the ball a decent amount at OU too.
January 25th, 2022 at 6:22 PM ^
They may get Williams. But we have JJ. Win for Michigan.
January 25th, 2022 at 6:37 PM ^
I think it would give Wisconsin a major chance to win the B10 title not just the west.
January 25th, 2022 at 6:47 PM ^
January 25th, 2022 at 7:02 PM ^
Are you kidding me????!
January 25th, 2022 at 7:18 PM ^
Are we sure Caleb is any good? I'm going to just yada yada past his recruiting rankings and say he lost some very key games at Baylor and OKSt where he didn't play that well. He was also in the best offensive system for a QB to put up numbers in the country. Let's settle down about any team landing him being a game changer.
January 25th, 2022 at 7:33 PM ^
....this would put him in one of the worst systems for a QB who fancies himself as a pure passer.
January 25th, 2022 at 7:35 PM ^
Well he's a hell of a lot better than Graham Mertz
January 25th, 2022 at 7:36 PM ^
Oh, come on. He was a true freshman who hadn't played since midway thru his junior year of HS when they stuck him in the Texas game. The team immediately got MUCH better. Yeah, he's good.
January 25th, 2022 at 9:31 PM ^
Everyone on this thread is treating him like God. He might not be a game changer, that's all.
January 26th, 2022 at 11:49 AM ^
Well he did tear up those mighty Big 12 defenses. Partially /s because Ok St was pretty good on D last season. If Williams does end up at Wisconsin he might be in for a bit of a rude awakening.
BTW, I think JJ will be the more successful collegiate QB when it's all said and done.
January 26th, 2022 at 1:16 AM ^
I mean, you could say that Michigan looked immediately MUCH better when John O'Korn game into the 2017 Purdue game.
For one, it can be easier for a different style quarterback that the defense hasn't prepared for to come into a game and look good.
Two, Texas was A LOT worse than anyone thought at the time, so less impressive that it seemed.
That said, you're right that he was just a true freshman and is probably going to be really good (if not considered already).
January 25th, 2022 at 7:36 PM ^
Anyone see Fleck as a replacement if Harbaugh walks? He kind of bugs me, but the guy can coach.
January 25th, 2022 at 7:46 PM ^
Good brainstorm , Brainstorm93. I do not see Fleck as a replacement for Jim.
January 26th, 2022 at 6:18 AM ^
I’m sure he’d row his boat across the Superior and the Huron for that chance
January 26th, 2022 at 6:21 AM ^
I'll take that as a "No." No one seems to want Fleck.
January 26th, 2022 at 7:12 AM ^
Did you mean to post this in 2020?
January 25th, 2022 at 7:45 PM ^
Right now, it's an interesting conversation but there isn't a whole lot to back it up.
January 25th, 2022 at 7:51 PM ^
3.2.1…Mertz to portal.
January 25th, 2022 at 9:37 PM ^
4...5...6 Who the heck would want him? He was horrible.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:35 PM ^
Notre Dame probably
January 25th, 2022 at 10:54 PM ^
There will never be a shortage of programs willing to take a flyer on a QB with talent. Someone will bring him in to compete.
QBs are like women, you can never have too many. But also, if you have two you have none.
January 26th, 2022 at 1:20 AM ^
Ha nice.
But yeah, there would be plenty of teams in need that would take him to see if he could win their job.
I mean, if Cade left Michigan I bet they'd take him as a backup (although not sure why he'd leave the backup spot at Wisconsin to sit behind a similarly talented true Soph at Michigan).
January 26th, 2022 at 5:20 AM ^
And yet he was far better than anyone on Iowa's roster.