Training camp is almost here for Wisconsin, and the quarterback room looks a whole lot different than it did a year ago.
After a 4-8 season in 2025, the Badgers spent the offseason overhauling both sides of the ball and added more than 30 transfers. At quarterback, the group now centers on transfer additions Colton Joseph of Old Dominion and Deuce Adams of Louisville, with Carter Smith as the lone returner and freshman Ryan Hopkins also in the mix.
Colton Joseph is the name that changes the conversation most. A rising redshirt junior, he arrives in Madison with real production behind him: 2,624 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions at Old Dominion, plus more than 1,000 rushing yards and double-digit scores on the ground.
That dual-threat profile fits what Wisconsin wants to do under offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. Joseph gives the offense a runner at quarterback, but he also brings something the Badgers didn’t get much of last season: a willingness to attack downfield.
He can extend plays when protection breaks down, and that mattered in spring when the line struggled at times. He also showed he’s willing to throw to the sidelines and challenge defenses vertically, which could help open things up for a receiver group that enters camp with plenty of questions.
The fit makes sense, but the concerns are real too. Joseph is moving into a more physical league, and that naturally raises durability questions for a quarterback who runs as part of the offense.
He also needs to be more consistent from the pocket. At times, he was late working through reads, leaned too hard on his first look, and accuracy was an issue in spring at all levels of the field.
That was already a talking point during his two seasons as a starter at Old Dominion.
And while Joseph should be an upgrade for Wisconsin, he won’t be operating in a perfect setup. The Badgers have a strong running back room, but the offensive line is young and had its share of ups and downs last season. The receiver room is still full of uncertainty, too, with few proven wideouts in a completely new group.
Behind Joseph, Deuce Adams appears to have the inside track to the backup job after taking most of the second-team reps in spring. The Louisville transfer showed some encouraging signs right away.
The ball comes out smoothly, and his arm strength looks solid. Like Joseph, he still needs work on timing, but he has the traits to be a dependable No. 2 option this season.
Adams also brings some game experience from last year at Louisville, which matters in a room this young.
Freshman Ryan Hopkins was one of the more impressive spring performers on the roster. Coming out of Mater Dei, he looked like a quarterback with good tools and some sneaky rushing ability, but also someone who would need time.
Instead, he showed confidence and swagger throughout the spring, something teammates noticed, and he was willing to test every area of the field with his arm. His arm isn’t the strongest, but he can get the ball where it needs to go, and he has enough savvy with his legs to create plays.
Hopkins is still a freshman, and that showed when pressure sped up his clock too often. Even so, the staff gave him some second-team work as spring went on, and he got plenty of chances overall. He’s not close to being a major contributor yet, but it was a strong first spring for a player who was supposed to still be in high school.
Smith, meanwhile, had a tougher spring. Last offseason already suggested he was a ways from being ready, and that showed when he was forced into action late last season. His running gave Wisconsin something, but as a passer he was well behind and needed major improvement before he could be trusted.
This spring brought more growing pains. Smith worked mostly behind Joseph, Adams and Hopkins, and his passing game still looks like a work in progress.
He’s behind on progressions, still reads like a run-first quarterback, and his accuracy remains a major question. Right now, it’s hard to know what his future looks like as a potential starter at Wisconsin.
For now, the Badgers appear to be in a better place at the position than they were a year ago, with a more established starter and a couple of younger backups trying to push for their own roles.
In Other News...
Wisconsins RB Battle Could Decide Whether The Badgers Run Game Is Back
Wisconsins running back room looks a lot different heading into 2026, and that alone makes it one of the more interesting position groups on the roster. The Badgers brought in Abu Sama III, Bryan Jackson, Nate Palmer and Julius Pope to join returning back Darrion Dupree, giving the offense a deeper and more varied mix than it had a season ago. With so many new faces in the room, the staff has options for different situations, from early-down work to short-yardage snaps, and the group has a chance to look much more efficient if the pieces settle in.
The bigger question is how much of that optimism turns into production once the games begin, because the running backs still need help up front to make the whole thing work. Injuries have already shaped the picture for some of the newcomers, and Duprees role has grown as the room has changed around him, making him an important part of the conversation even as the rest of the depth chart sorts itself out. For Wisconsin, the promise is obvious, but the real test will be whether this rebuilt backfield can finally get the ground game back to the level the program expects. [Read more 🡒]
Nolan Winter Sees Early Signs Wisconsin Landed Two Difference Makers
While recovering from offseason ankle surgery, Nolan Winter has had a front-row seat to Wisconsins summer practices, and the early returns on two of the Badgers newcomers have caught his attention. Winter came away impressed by point guard Owen Foxwells feel for the game and by forward Victory Onuetus presence inside, noting that both players already look like they can fill important roles on a roster still taking shape for the upcoming season.
Foxwell, Winter said, gives Wisconsin another steady hand in the backcourt with the kind of court vision and scoring touch that can help the offense flow more naturally. Onuetu, meanwhile, has brought a more physical edge to practice with his athleticism and rebounding, the sort of frontcourt ingredient the Badgers have been looking to add as they try to balance skill with toughness on both ends. [Read more 🡒]
Three Wisconsin Transfers Could Haunt The Badgers In 2026
Wisconsins massive transfer haul is already drawing the kind of long-view scrutiny that comes with a 33-man class, and not all of it is flattering. As the Badgers try to reshape the roster for 2026, the early conversation has turned to which additions might look like smart bets now but end up feeling like missed evaluations later, especially once the grind of Big Ten play exposes the difference between projection and production.
The concern is less about talent in a vacuum than about fit, opportunity and how quickly newcomers can translate their previous success to Wisconsins level. A crowded receiver room, questions along the defensive front and the demands placed on cornerbacks all create real pressure points, and the staffs own assessments only sharpen the uncertainty. For a team banking so heavily on transfers, the uncomfortable part is that a few of the most intriguing names may also be the ones with the widest range of possible outcomes. [Read more 🡒]