With Luke Fickell’s hiring in Madison, the Badgers score a top transfer in order to start a massive reconstruction
When SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai hit the transfer portal a few days ago, it signified the epitome of what the tool had to offer. Just a couple months ago rumors swirled of the pass-thrower getting ready to enter the 2023 NFL Draft. The transfer portal brings new life to players, who used to only have two big options– stick it out or enter the draft. Now, with Mordecai committing to the Wisconsin Badgers, it’s a signifier of something new– the dawn of a new era in Madison.
Mordecai started his career at the University of Oklahoma, but was relegated to the shadows of three superstar quarterbacks. From 2018-2020, he served as the backup to Kyler Murray and competed for the starting job against Jalen Hurts and Spencer Rattler, both of which he lost. Drowned as the understudy, he made the best of a bad situation and through 3 seasons in Norman, Mordecai posted an impressive stat line, playing in 12 games, he completed 50/70 for 639 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Not bad for someone who was lost behind two NFL quarterbacks.
His 2021 was eventful and got off to a fast start. After transferring some 210 miles south to SMU, the AAC got their first glimpse of what Mordecai was capable of.
In Week 1 of the ’21 season, the Waco, Texas native threw for a school-record 7 touchdowns against Abilene Christian, a statement first impression after being hidden in the Sooner State. That 2021 season culminated all his patience and it paid off, Mordecai was named to the American’s All-Conference Second Team.
The 2022 season built upon previous success as the quarterback once again broke his own single-game touchdown record, this time tossing 9 against Houston in a mindboggling 77-63 win. Throughout the 2022 campaign, Mordecai threw for 3,306 yards on 406 attempts. Completing 64.3% of those, he threw for 31 touchdowns to a meager 9 interceptions, an overall successful year in Dallas.
On December 30th, Mordecai announced his intent to transfer to Wisconsin, only a couple of days after he entered the portal to begin with. This comes after Wisconsin’s recent signing of Luke Fickell as head coach. Fickell comes to Madison after 6 years of coaching at the University of Cincinnati, where he led the Bearcats to a perfect 13-0 record and an appearance in the College Football Playoff. Trailblazing, Fickell’s squad was the first non Power-5 team to make the Playoff, a emphasized bullet point on his resume.
Even with the arrival of a new regime, Mordecai states that wasn’t the factor that pulled him to the Badgers. Instead, it was even newer hire in Phil Longo, who Fickell appointed as his offensive coordinator last month.
“They were really excited about me. They want a guy who could come in, lead the guys, lead the culture, be productive this fall, win a lot of games and go compete for championships,” Mordecai stated on the 365 Sports Podcast.
Mordecai’s commitment is a huge stepping stone for the Wisconsin Badgers, especially in a hyper-competitive Big 10 West, which has been close in its lack of quality play. Purdue, who won the West in 2022 finished with an 8-6 record, subpar compared to the Big 10 East whose top 3 teams ended the year with a cumulative record of 35-5. Wisconsin themselves didn’t live up to expectations either winning 7 games and dropping 6 while maintaining an abysmal 4-5 conference record.
Quality quarterback play has been engulfed in a drought in recent years for the Badgers, whose 2022 quarterback in Graham Mertz threw for 2,136 yards and 19 touchdowns over 12 games. Mertz also slung for 10 interceptions, putting his TD/INT ratio at 1.9:1. Mertz has since transferred to Florida, opening up a red carpet for Mordecai, a vested veteran to come in and change the culture and take the starting QB spot.
Both Fickell and Longo have fostered quarterbacks over the years, making it an amicable environment for Mordecai, who has stepped up once again to a Power-5 team. Longo hails from the University of North Carolina at his last coaching job, helming over the OC job as well as quarterbacks. Longo has seen the likes of Sam Howell and Drake Maye come through his ranks, with Howell a high draft pick for the Washington Commanders in 2022, who is slated to make his first NFL start on Sunday. Maye looks to enter his name in the 2023 NFL Draft and is quickly rising up scouts draft boards after his Holiday Bowl performance.
Fickell has coached Desmond Ridder at Cincinnati, another NFL quarterback that was selected high amongst a loaded 2022 quarterback class.
Mordecai is an instant boost to a rebuilding Badgers team with a solid defense. While not the 2001 Miami Hurricanes, this Wisconsin defense looks to be one of the best in the Big 10. The Badgers were 2nd in the Big 10 in interceptions last year with an active secondary, and middle of the pack in nearly every other defensive category. A passer like Mordecai could be all this team needs to start moving up the conference standings over teams like Illinois and Minnesota.
