The Wisconsin Badgers added more experience and depth to their quarterback room on Wednesday with a commitment from Southern Illinois graduate transfer Hunter Simmons.
Simmons is the program’s third transfer quarterback addition of the offseason and first overall addition of the spring window. He joins the program with a final year of eligibility remaining.
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The veteran started three games for Southern Illinois in 2024 before a leg injury ended his season. Those appearances included 57% completion, 852 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and zero interceptions, plus 57 rushing yards and a score on 19 carries. He notably follows former Salukis offensive coordinator Blake Rolan to Wisconsin, who signed onto the program’s staff this offseason as an assistant wide receivers coach.
The Badgers have an entirely new quarterback room entering 2025, compared to the one that finished the 2024 season. Tyler Van Dyke transferred to SMU, Braedyn Locke to Arizona, Mabrey Mettauer to play for Phil Longo at Sam Houston State and Cole LaCrue to Eastern Illinois. Furthermore, in the high school ranks, class of 2025 signee Landyn Locke flipped to Sam Houston State, plus 2026 QB Jarin Mock decommitted.
Such turnover is expected when a team reshapes its offensive scheme and identity under a new coordinator. The program fired Longo, who has since taken the head coach job at Sam Houston State, in mid-November. It then hired former Kansas and Baylor OC Jeff Grimes shortly after the season’s conclusion.
The program has landed three transfers and one high school quarterback since Grimes’ arrival, plus kept the commitment from four-star class of 2025 signal-caller Carter Smith. With Simmons now part of that group, here is an updated look at the team’s quarterback depth chart entering the 2025 season.
Starter: Billy Edwards Jr.
Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9) is shown during spring football practice Thursday, April 3, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
2024 Stats (at Maryland): 273 of 420 passing (65%), 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 11 carries, 81 rushing yards, five rushing scores
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Edwards is Wisconsin’s clear-cut starter entering the season. The senior excelled at Maryland in 2024, putting up impressive numbers despite a Big Ten-worst offensive line and supporting cast. He appears to be a perfect fit in Grimes’ pro-style offense. With health, he shouldn’t have much trouble registering Wisconsin’s best quarterback season since at least 2019.
Backup: Danny O’Neil
Oct 12, 2024; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; San Diego State Aztecs quarterback Danny O’Neil (5) looks to throw against the Wyoming Cowboys during the second quarter at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-Imagn Images
2024 Stats (at San Diego State): 209 of 330 passing (65%), 2,181 yards, 12 touchdowns, six interceptions, 73 carries, 93 rushing yards, one rushing score
O’Neil started as a true freshman in 2024. While his numbers were up-and-down, he transferred in with a rare combination of remaining eligibility (three years) and starting experience. The sophomore will back up Edwards in 2025 before competing for the starting job in 2026 and beyond.
Further Depth
Oct 5, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
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Hunter Simmons (Southern Illinois transfer): Simmons is the likely third string behind O’Neil. He put up strong numbers in three starts in 2024 before a leg injury ended his campaign. His addition is a clear attempt by Wisconsin to avoid the situation it found itself in each of the last two seasons, when an injury to the starter made the room’s depth razor-thin.
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Carter Smith (true freshman, four-star recruit): Smith is Wisconsin’s likely quarterback of the future. The four-star recruit was 247Sports’ No. 285 player in the class of 2025 and No. 24 quarterback. His addition, which actually followed Longo’s firing, was a major win for the program. While his future appears bright, it’s unlikely he factors into the team’s depth chart this season.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football quarterback depth chart update with new transfer
