Wisconsin preparing to start O’Neil at QB in place of the injured Edwards against Middle Tennessee

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Danny O’Neil transferred to Wisconsin understanding he likely would spend up to a year as a backup before getting a chance to start.

He won’t have to wait nearly that long.

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell acknowledged Tuesday that quarterback Billy Edwards Jr.’s knee injury likely will prevent him from playing Saturday against Middle Tennessee. The Badgers plan to turn to O’Neil, who started 11 games for San Diego State last year.

“It’s a big opportunity,” O’Neil said. “It’s something I’ve been dreaming of — playing for a Big Ten school — since I was a little kid. I’m just excited to be able to do it with my guys this week.”

Edwards left the Badgers’ season-opening 17-0 victory over Miami (Ohio) on Thursday in the second quarter and O’Neil filled in the rest of the way. Initial reports indicate Edwards has a sprained knee, leaving his status as week to week.

“I don’t believe that Billy will be playing,” Fickell said. “He didn’t practice, so obviously Danny would be the guy we would go with, and Hunter (Simmons) would be the backup, and we’d just proceed from there.”

Wisconsin will be playing a Middle Tennessee team that lost its opener 34-14 to Austin Peay of the Football Championship Subdivision. The Badgers play at No. 21 Alabama the following week.

The Badgers have grown accustomed to quarterback injuries. Tanner Mordecai missed 3 1/2 games with a broken hand in 2023. Last year, Tyler Van Dyke tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the Badgers’ third game and missed the rest of the season.

Edwards started to limp after handing the ball off early in the second quarter Thursday. He was making his Wisconsin debut after spending last season at Maryland, where he completed 65% of his passes for 2,881 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions for a 4-8 team.

O’Neil went 12 of 19 for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception after replacing Edwards. He also rushed for 13 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

Last year, O’Neil started 11 games and completed 63.3% of his passes for 2,181 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions for San Diego State, which went 3-9.

Heading to Wisconsin brought O’Neil closer to his hometown of Indianapolis, though Fickell’s staff made it clear that Edwards would be the starter.

“They had their plan for me since day one that I got here,” O’Neil said. “That was something that I was super intrigued with and something that I loved. I was just really grateful that I was going to have a year to be able to learn under a vet like Billy, and then come what may.”

O’Neil’s experience as a starter gives him an idea of what to expect this week.

“I think his confidence kind of gives the rest of the team confidence in him,” safety Preston Zachman said.

Undersized at 6 feet, O’Neil plays with an attitude that Fickell describes as an “athletic arrogance” and O’Neil refers to as “moxie.”

“I think it’s authentic,” Fickell said. “I think he really does have a confidence in what he does, and you can see it every single day. But there’s a lot of growth, and I’m sure he will be the first to tell you while he was prepared, he also probably recognized some areas where, ‘OK, I’ve got to do a better job in my opportunities to run this team and run this offense.’”

O’Neil says his attitude stems from the skepticism he’s encountered.

“I’ve been told I don’t have a strong enough arm, I’m not big enough, I’m not fast enough,” O’Neil said. “So just being able to go out there and prove myself right more so than proving other people wrong is a big thing. It’s something that I just carry that chip with me every single day.”

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