Billy Edwards Jr. Feeling "Exciting Nerves" Ahead of First Wisconsin Game
The 2025 Wisconsin Badgers football season is nearly upon on, and senior quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., along with the rest of the team, is ready to go against Miami (OH). The Badgers, after a disappointing 5-7 record in 2024, are coming out with a unique fire after failing to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2001.
Edwards, the transfer QB from Maryland, will get his first taste of Camp Randall on the home team’s sideline. The Terrapins took on Wisconsin in Madison during the 2022 season, Edwards’ freshman year; however, he didn’t see any action in what would be a 23-10 win in favor of the home team.
The 22-year-old reflected on that game, most notable for the poor weather conditions and, as a result, low-scoring matchup.
“Not a lot went our way that day, I remember that much,” Edwards said. “But even still, it’s a very faint memory, but I can still remember the ‘Jump Around.’ I can still remember just walking into the stadium and kind of being a little, not shell-shocked, but as a younger player, kind of being like ‘Whoa.’
“This is maybe one of the bigger stadiums I’ve seen in my earlier career. And now that I get the opportunity to be on that right sideline, the home sideline, it’s definitely a lot of, like I said, exciting nerves.”
OC Jeff Grimes Praises Edwards’ Versatility
Last season, Edwards threw for 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, posting a QB rating of 58.3 (68th in the nation). The Terrapins went 4-8, but now Edwards will have a fresh start at another Big Ten program. It’ll be the first time he isn’t wearing a Maryland uniform on the collegiate level.
Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator, Jeff Grimes, talked about Edwards’ performance and progress in fall camp, and the kind of impact he can have in this offense.
“His preparation and his willingness to study and be ready for every single day is phenomenal, maybe the best I’ve been around,” Grimes said. “He allows us to be as multiple as we are. You watch us practice and you see the multiple formations and shifts and motions, and you see the quarterback directing things at the line of scrimmage. That takes a lot of work.
“We wouldn’t be able to do the things we’re doing, in terms of pure volume schematically, if we didn’t have a guy like him.”
Edwards Speaks on Wisconsin’s Offensive Strengths
The Badgers will have plenty of weapons against the RedHawks, particularly on offense. Edwards will be surrounded by a few playmakers on the first team, including freshman running back Dilin Jones, and a wide receiver corps of Chris Brooks Jr., Vinny Anthony II and Trech Kekahuna. Tight end Tucker Ashcraft (leg) will be out, giving more time to Jackson Acker and Lance Mason.
“We have a lot of weapons, whether it’s the tight end room, the running back room, the receivers,” Edwards said. “Just getting those guys the ball, being able to come in with different formations, different personnel, whatever it is… The multiplicity allows us to really be able to spread the ball out and be diverse.
“And then, obviously, from a game plan perspective, there’s not just four guys getting the ball on our offense. There’s probably 10, 11, 12 that defensive coordinators, defensive coaches are going to have to at least think about.”
Head coach Luke Fickell talked about Week 1 posing a lot of the “unknown” to start the Badgers’ season. There aren’t as many expectations as there would be down the road, but Wisconsin will look to come out hot against the first opponent on one of the hardest schedules in college football. In his first start at Camp Randall, Edwards will lead this new, refined and versatile offense.
