Despite severe struggles, Wisconsin quarterback Joel Stave will remain in the mix for the top spot on the depth chart. Stave will back up starter Tanner McEvoy for the Badgers’ game against Northwestern.
“If there’s an opportunity to get Joel in the game in the right setting, it will be a possibility. I think he’s continued to progress, handled some more team activities in a solid way this week,” head coach Gary Andersen said this week.
Stave has started 19 games in a Badger uniform only to lose the starting gig to McEvoy during training camp. McEvoy has a rather strange story as well, being a junior transfer that started 10 games last season at safety. He converted to quarterback this summer at training camp. McEvoy has assumed the role primarily due to Stave’s struggles. Stave, however, was a reliable player a season ago, throwing 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while leading Wisconsin to a 9-4 record.
On top of this, he set a program record with 336 pass attempts and threw for 2,494 yards. There had been rumors swirling that Stave’s recent struggles had been linked to his injured shoulder suffered during the Capital One Bowl in January causing him to miss time in spring practice, but Stave has blamed his lack of confidence.
The no. 17 ranked Badgers hold a 3-1 record heading into their Big Ten opener and need elevated quarterback play in order to contend for a conference title. Wisconsin has a favorable schedule the rest of the way and could finish as a top ten team in the nation.
*Section Photo credit to Jamie Sabau, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to David Manning, USA Today Sports
