MADISON, Wis. — Given the inexperience and injuries among Wisconsin's group of quarterbacks, perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Badgers are on the prowl for outside help once again.
Multiple reports indicate the Badgers are actively pursuing Maryland transfer quarterback Danny O'Brien, who will graduate this spring and will have two years of eligibility remaining. He is eligible to transfer under the same rule that allowed Russell Wilson to move to Wisconsin from North Carolina State and play last year without having to sit out a season.
Reports of O'Brien potentially playing for Wisconsin have existed since he was granted a release to transfer by Maryland coach Randy Edsall on Feb. 22. But those reports picked up steam when Badgers coach Bret Bielema announced during Wisconsin's pro day Wednesday that quarterback Jon Budmayr would miss all of spring practice after suffering a setback in his recovery from nerve damage in his throwing elbow. Fellow Badgers quarterback Curt Phillips also will be limited in the spring while recovering from a knee injury.
Bielema added that incoming four-star freshman quarterback Bart Houston out of De La Salle High School in California would undergo minor shoulder surgery and miss part of fall camp.
The news on Budmayr leaves Wisconsin with just two healthy quarterbacks for the start of spring camp: Joe Brennan and Joel Stave. Stave, a freshman, has yet to throw a pass in college, while Brennan is six for 15 with 48 yards passing, no touchdowns and one interception.
Bielema said on Wednesday that he couldn't discuss possible transfer scenarios by NCAA rules, but he did say the situation was desperate enough that he was exploring using any former high school quarterbacks he had on his roster as potential fill-ins.
At least 15 major college football programs reportedly have expressed an interest in O'Brien, who is expected to make his decision by no later than April. Three frontrunners that have reportedly surfaced are Wisconsin, Penn State and Vanderbilt. The Commodores would appear to have the inside track because they are coached by James Franklin, who served as the Terrapins' offensive coordinator when O'Brien thrived at quarterback as a freshman.
As a sophomore at Maryland this past season, O'Brien completed 150 of 266 passes for 1,648 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He eventually was benched by Edsall in favor of backup quarterback C.J. Brown.
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