Wisconsin is getting Oklahoma quarterback Nick Evers from the transfer portal
MADISON – After playing in just one game as a freshman this season, quarterback Nick Evers decided he was going to use the NCAA transfer portal to explore his options and look for a new home.
Evers entered the gate on December 5th. He visited Wisconsin on Tuesday and teased UW fans by posting photos on social media, photos of him wearing a UW uniform.
The wait ended Saturday when Evers announced he was committed to UW.
Evers is the first player from another school to announce plans to transfer to UW since Luke Fickell took over as head coach.
Two Wisconsin players who entered the transfer portal — offensive lineman Michael Fortney and wide receiver Marcus Allen — recently announced that they intend to stay.
Evers’ commitment adds a player in an awkward position of need. He is expected to enroll at UW next month and participate in the Spring Ball.
more:Early signing period begins Wednesday Here’s what to expect from new Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickel
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Wisconsin entered the week with two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, senior Chase Wolfe and freshman Miles Burkett. The Badgers also add Colorado quarterback Cole LaCrew, who also plans to enroll in January and participate in spring ball.
At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Evers was a dual-threat standout at Flower Mound High School in Texas before singing with the Sooners.
In his last two seasons in high school, Evers passed for 44 touchdowns and nearly 5,000 yards and rushed for 18 touchdowns. He initially committed to Florida before signing with Oklahoma.
The coaches can’t comment on unsigned recruits, but Fickel has said several times since taking the UW job that he and his staff will build the team on high school recruits and use the transfer portal as a supplemental tool.
“This is not the way we want to continue to build our software,” he said recently when asked about the portal. “That’s not my vision. I don’t think that’s the vision of what this place should be.
“You take high school kids and you develop them over four or five years and you get amazing results.
“Now, we understand that there are situations where you have to fill in the gaps.”
Never has the UW roster had a bigger gap than at the quarterback position after rookie Graham Mertz announced he planned to transfer.
Wolf played in 12 games over five seasons. He completed 17 of 31 passes for 176 yards, with two touchdowns and four interceptions.
Burkett has played two matches this season. He completed 4 of 5 passes for 84 yards.
LaCrue recently led Broomfield High School to a Class 4A state title. Despite playing on an injured right ankle, LaCrue completed 15 of 25 passes for 233 yards and had two touchdown runs in the 24-14 win over Loveland. He finished the season 167-of-261 (64%) for 2,648 yards, with 26 touchdowns and six interceptions.
The UW staff will likely want to add a veteran quarterback, too.
Brennan Armstrong of Virginia is a player to watch. Armstrong passed for 4,449 yards, with 31 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions in 2021.
However, a coaching change prior to the 2022 season resulted in a new offense and Armstrong struggled in 10 games. He passed for only 2,210 yards, with seven touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Armstrong is from Ohio and was offered by Cincinnati before enrolling in Virginia in 2018.
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