Five quarterbacks are currently participating in spring practice for the University of Wisconsin football team. Unfortunately for four of them, only one will be named starter. The rest will be relegated to roam the sidelines and signal play calls when the new season begins.
Senior Allan Evridge, last season's No. 2 quarterback and former starter at Kansas State prior to his transfer to UW, will likely hold the position heading into fall camp. However, junior Dustin Sherer, sophomore Scott Tolzien and freshmen James Stallons and Curt Phillips will all make runs at the starting spot through the spring.
Obviously, there is only one quarterback that can play and all of us know that,"" said Sherer, who has been listed behind former Badger quarterbacks John Stocco and Tyler Donovan on the depth chart since arriving on campus. ""All of us are good friends and we help each other out. You just go out there and do your thing and eventually it will work out for you.""
Near the conclusion of practice early Tuesday morning, head coach Bret Bielema told reporters his plans to start assigning more reps to the top contenders for the position as soon as Saturday. At this point, all the players vying for the spot have received an equal amount of snaps during practice and have equally participated with the rest of the projected offensive starters.
""Every opportunity that you get, you have to try to make the most of it and just cherish the reps that you get,"" sophomore Scott Tolzien said. ""It's equal reps right now, but you just have to make the most of them, make good decisions and try to get better every day.""
Last season, a quarterback competition between Donovan and Evridge continued well into fall camp before a final decision to start Donovan was made. This season, especially early in spring practice, coaches insist an open competition is once again underway.
""They [coaches] pretty much have said that it's wide open,"" Stallons said following day four of practice. ""Everyone is there, everybody is competing for the same spot. So just work your hardest and the guy who works the hardest and plays the best will get the starting job.""
One of the long-standing traditions of Wisconsin football and a typical advantage for the quarterbacks is a strong, athletic offensive line. The upcoming season should be no different, as four of last year's five starters return, providing a mode of comfort for a rather inexperienced group of quarterbacks.
""That's what quarterbacks say their prayers to at night is having a good line,"" Tolzien said. ""Obviously, on paper we should be good next year, and anytime you have a good line, it makes you that much more confident sitting in the pocket.""
Practice Notes:
-Junior running back Lance Smith lined up as a wide receiver multiple times during practice. Smith caught the majority of passes thrown at him, including wide receiver screens and at least one deep pass where he outran his defender.
-Senior defensive tackle Mike Newkirk successfully underwent shoulder surgery over Spring Break and should be back in time for summer conditioning drills.
-Sophomore defensive lineman Ricky Garner suffered a mild hamstring injury, though Bielema confirmed the injury was not very significant and should not sideline him long.
-During the March 13th practice, UW's last before spring break, it was learned that junior defensive back Kim Royston decided to transfer out of the UW football program. Royston had played as an extra defensive back in obvious passing situations and on the special teams unit last season.
