Billy Edwards Jr.’s path since leaving Wisconsin has done more than just reset his career - it has put a spotlight back on how thin the Badgers were at quarterback last season.
Edwards, who transferred from Maryland to Wisconsin and was handed the starting job without a true competition, was supposed to steady the offense. Instead, his Badgers tenure barely got off the ground.
He tweaked his knee in the opener, tried to come back against Maryland and managed only a few snaps, then disappeared from the field for the rest of the year. In all, he threw for 113 yards in 2025 for Wisconsin.
That season fit into a broader mess in Madison, where injuries, coaching issues, a brutal schedule and a lack of talent all played a part in the collapse. The talent issue, though, was impossible to ignore - especially on offense. Wisconsin had some legitimate standouts, including linebackers Mason Reiger, Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano, but not enough difference-makers overall.
Quarterback was the clearest example. The Badgers went into last season betting on Edwards as the answer, even though he came out of his lone year as a starter at Maryland as a solid but unspectacular transfer option. With limited resources and little recent success to sell, Wisconsin didn’t have the luxury of being picky.
Now Edwards is at North Carolina with Bill Belichick, and the situation is different. He has to win the job rather than inherit it. That task got harder because he was still injured during spring ball, and while he was reportedly fully healthy before fall camp, he has now fallen behind in the Tar Heels’ quarterback race.
According to 247Sports, Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill is currently ahead in the battle for the starting role.
There are reasons to keep that in perspective. Edwards was working back from injury, and this time he was competing against a Power Four-caliber quarterback. At Wisconsin, the competition was Danny O’Neil, who transferred after an okay debut season at San Diego State, and Hunter Simmons, who came from the FCS level.
Even so, the optics matter. O’Neill has only 20 career passes, while Edwards brings far more experience as a full-time Power Four starter. If he is still losing ground, it reinforces the idea that he is, in the end, just an average quarterback - not a savior, not a special talent, just fine.
For Wisconsin, that’s another reminder of what last season really was. And if the Badgers have truly upgraded talent across the roster, quarterback is the spot where they most need that improvement to show.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Fall Camp Battle For Key Week 1 Roles Is Heating Up
The first eight practices of Wisconsins fall camp have already started to sharpen the picture for Week 1, even if the Badgers are still a long way from making anything official. Across the roster, the early read is less about settled roles than about competition and depth, with the quarterback room, running back group, offensive line and several defensive spots all still under close observation as the staff sorts through injuries and uncertainty.
One of the clearest developments so far has come in the backup battle behind Colton Joseph, where Deuce Adams has pushed himself right into the mix as the most interesting challenger. Tight end is another spot worth watching, too, with Hilton appearing to have surged into the lead in the projection after a strong start to camp, leaving Wisconsin with a few key position calls still very much in motion as the opener approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins Huge UDFA Class Is Already Giving Badger Fans Hope
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A few of those ex-Badgers showed up with tangible production, filling stat sheets with tackles, receptions and even a sack here and there, while others had quieter nights or simply got limited time on the field. For a fan base that always tracks its alumni closely, the early returns are enough to spark some optimism, even if the roster battles are just getting started. [Read more 🡒]
Eugene Hilton Jr Is Forcing His Way Into Wisconsins Plans
Eugene Hilton Jr. has spent fall camp doing exactly what a second-year receiver needs to do if he wants to crack Wisconsins plans: make himself impossible to ignore. The Badgers have seen real growth from Hilton in practice, where his hands have looked steady, his route-running sharper and his overall comfort in the offense noticeably better than a year ago. For a wideout trying to climb the depth chart, that kind of steady buzz can matter as much as any highlight.
The encouraging part for Wisconsin is that Hilton is not just flashing in one area. Coaches and teammates have pointed to his versatility as a reason he is starting to look like a real piece of the offense rather than just a camp story. If that trajectory holds, he could enter the 2026 season with a much more defined role than anyone might have projected earlier in his career, which is exactly the kind of development the Badgers want to see from a young receiver room. [Read more 🡒]