The Badger Herald

SPORTS

Starting quarterback job still up in air

JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo

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Also by Derek Zetlin:

Fans get first look at UW (April 18, 2008)
Too much of a good thing? (April 16, 2008)
Madison in need of baseball team (April 16, 2008)
Keys to Badgers' football success (April 9, 2008)
Injured starters give chance to reserves (April 7, 2008)

by Derek Zetlin

Monday, April 21, 2008

They wore neither cardinal nor white. And in their final chance to impress their coaches before summer, the UW quarterback corps, donning green jerseys Saturday, did just that.

“I thought the quarterbacks did an outstanding job of moving the ball early, but threw a couple critical interceptions,” head coach Bret Bielema said in his postgame press conference. “I was happy with what the quarterbacks did. … They all got better. I didn’t see anybody playing terrible today.”

Senior Allan Evridge took the field first for the Cardinal squad — the team made up of both the offensive and defensive projected starters — and completed his first pass attempt to sophomore Isaac Anderson for a 15-yard gain. Evridge looked comfortable in the pocket and moved the ball down the field on several drives, as he finished 7-of-12 for 137 yards.

“[My play] was OK, not where it needs to be yet,” Evridge said. “That’s the great thing about spring; it’s just another practice. We get to keep coming out in the summer and over the fall and keep working on it.”

Evridge’s only blemish on the day came on a deep ball intended for sophomore David Gilreath, which was intercepted by junior defensive back Chris Maragos.

“I knew it was going to be close when I threw it up there, but I was hoping David would be able to get to it,” Evridge said. “But Maragos just wanted it, and he went up and got it. It was a great play on his part. I’d like to have that one back, [should have] just hit the check down [receiver], but I was trying to go for a big shot. But you learn.”

Junior Dustin Sherer also played well under center Saturday, finishing 5-of-8 for 58 yards and no interceptions.

“I played pretty well,” Sherer said. “There’s one throw I’d like to have back, an out-route to Isaac, but I thought I did pretty well, put the ball where it was supposed to go.”

After watching from the sidelines for three full seasons, Sherer’s comfort level with the offense is at an all-time high.

“I feel really good, especially in this spring game, because we don’t have much stuff in; it’s pretty vanilla, there’s not too much stuff that we really got into,” Sherer said. “I’m real comfortable, as comfortable as I’ve ever been.”

Many people think that the battle for the quarterback spot is a two-person race. But according to Bielema, a new candidate has become part of the mix.

“The guy that’s jumped out to me the last few weeks has been Scott Tolzien,” Bielema said. “Scotty’s just been steady in there.”

Tolzien finished 4-of-8 for 61 yards and despite a pair of interceptions, looked quite poised running the UW offense.

“I wasn’t perfect by any means,” Tolzien said. “I think I did a decent job. I started strong, had a couple nice drives and had a turnover to follow it up, which is no good, but overall it went pretty smooth, I thought.”

The more experience he gets, the more the sophomore continues to improve.

“I feel really good,” Tolzien continued. “Having a year under my belt, I’m a lot more comfortable with the plays, the guys around me, everything, the whole atmosphere.”

Freshman Curt Phillips made his UW debut Saturday. The Kingsport, Tenn., native completed his first pass of the day to fellow freshman Eric Kossoris. Phillips finished the day 1-of-5 for 12 yards and no interceptions.

“It was a good experience to get out in Camp Randall and play; it was a whole lot of fun,” Phillips said. “I’m still learning, so I definitely wouldn’t say I’m where I want to be, but I’ve just got to get used to it and try and get the hang of it.”

Phillips’ classmate, James Stallons, played for both teams and threw the game’s only touchdown pass, a flag route late in the fourth quarter to sophomore tight end Lance Kendricks.

Who’s No. 1?

One of the above-mentioned quarterbacks will succeed Tyler Donovan as Wisconsin’s next signal caller. And according to Bielema, that spot is still very much up for grabs.

“We probably will kind of approach it similar to what we did a year ago, as far as naming a starter,” Bielema said. “We will get into fall camp, see where the guys are at, see who is consistent and name a starter probably two weeks out from the [first] game.”

It may be Evridge’s spot to lose, but Sherer remains confident about his chances to become No. 1.

“I’m very confident; I’ve been that way ever since I’ve been here,” Sherer said. “All that matters is what happens on the field. It’s up to [Evridge] and I. We need to be consistent and then one of us needs to stand out, and as soon as one does, I think that guy will be the guy.”

As for Evridge, he’s just taking things one day at a time.

“It doesn’t affect me at all if I’m No. 1, No. 2, No. 4,” Evridge said. “I’m going to approach every practice the same way, try to get better every day.”

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