Badgers Freshman Alex Hornibrook Will Start in East Lansing

How will the Badgers Offense Respond Under Hornibrook?

Badgers Quarterback Alex Hornibrook Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

After sparking the Badgers offense in Saturday’s victory Coach Chryst has named Freshman Quarterback Alex Hornibrook the starter for this weeks contest against Michigan State. According to Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel Writer Jeff Portrykus Hornibrook was named the starter last night. Going 8 for 12 for 122 yard and a touchdown, this decision doesn’t seem to surprise anyone after both quarterbacks performance on Saturday and Coach Chryst’s relationship with both quarterbacks. Chryst inherited Senior Bart Houston, but Hornibrook was one of Chryst’s top recruits who seems to fit perfectly in Chryst’s offense. The announcement this early in the week makes it very clear that there is no quarterback controversy in Madison, the reigns are Hornibrook’s going forward, barring injury.

So what does that mean for the Badgers offense? With such a small sample size, its hard to tell. But from what we saw on Saturday, it looks like it will be better under Hornibrook’s reign. The biggest part of Hornibrook’s game that gave the Badgers success was his ability to convert on third down and keep drives moving. In addition to that, his ability to move in the pocket and hit touch passes gives the Badgers offense a new element it hasn’t had yet this season. If Hornibrook is able to continue that, you would think that the offense will look better than it has all season, but the Badgers are facing a new test on Saturday.

While it will be Hornibrook’s first start, it will also be the Badger’s first true road game into a hostile environment in East Lansing, where they have lost the last four contests. Hornibrook will face a much tougher defense than he has in Akron and Georgia State against Michigan State. The other major factor to look for is if the weapons around him will be healthy for Saturday as we await news on Clement, Deal, and Fumagalli.

With all that weighing against him, Hornibrook appears unphased. For being such a young quarterback, he always seems to have a certain confidence around him that leads me to believe that the environment will not bother him on Saturday. He’s confident in his abilities, and has the confidence of his coaching staff and players. With the Alex Hornibrook era beginning at Wisconsin, Badgers fans should have a lot of excitement on the potential of what he could bring to the Badgers Offense. The Badgers kick off at 11 AM Central at Michigan State on the Big Ten Network.