Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Van Dyke left the Badgers’ Week 3 game against Alabama early with an injury, but the news got worse for Luke Fickell’s program and the former Miami Hurricanes quarterback on Monday.
What is the latest on Van Dyke and what does it mean for the Badgers moving forward in the 2024 college football season?
What Happened to Tyler Van Dyke?
Van Dyke will miss the remainder of the 2024 season, according to multiple reports, including from ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg and Pete Thamel, but first reported by the Wisconsin State Journal. The Badgers’ QB suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during the 42-10 loss to the Crimson Tide.
The injury occurred on the very first drive of Wisconsin’s Week 3 contest against Alabama. Although he was close to Crimson Tide defender Keanu Koht at the time of the injury, replays showed that Van Dyke’s knee buckled prior to contact.
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According to reporter Doug Russell, Van Dyke was unable to put any weight on his right leg as he made his way to the medical tent. He was taken to the tent for further evaluation. Shortly after being evaluated, Van Dyke was carted off the field to the locker room.
2024 was meant to be a bounce-back year for Van Dyke. He transferred to Wisconsin looking to rekindle his early-career form at Miami and elevate his 2025 NFL Draft stock. He was the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year after his stalwart 2021 season, and despite his regression in play down the stretch of his time there, he was still renowned for his arm talent and gunslinger mentality.
In four years with the Hurricanes, Van Dyke completed 581 of 912 attempts for 7,469 yards, 54 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions. Through two weeks with the Badgers, Van Dyke had completed 38 of 63 attempts for 403 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. He’d completed his first five passes against Alabama before suffering the season-ending injury.
2024 was Van Dyke’s fifth year in college, and he’d started each of the last three seasons. It remains to be seen whether he will apply for a medical waiver and return for the 2025 college football season.
Who Is Braedyn Locke?
With Van Dyke done for the season, Wisconsin will likely turn to backup quarterback Braedyn Locke for the rest of the campaign. The third-year passer completed 50% of his passes for 125 yards and one touchdown in the defeat to Alabama.
A former Class 6A Texas state record holder with 129 career passing touchdowns at Rockwall High School, Locke was the 22nd-ranked quarterback recruit in the 2022 class. He committed to Mississippi State, but after seeing zero action as a true freshman, he hit the transfer portal, landing in Madison for the 2023 college football season.
Locke made three starts for the Badgers last fall, becoming the first Wisconsin freshman QB to post two 240+ yard passing performances. He was also named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after leading the Badgers to a win over Illinois. His 243 passing yards against Ohio State were the fourth-most by a Wisconsin freshman in program history.
Locke will now be tasked with leading Wisconsin down the strech of a season that includes clashes with USC, Penn State, and Oregon in the new-look Big Ten. The Badgers have a bye week to prepare their new starting QB for the game with the Trojans.
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