Billy Edwards Making Wisconsin a Believer
MADISON, Wis. — There are a lot of reasons to doubt Wisconsin in 2025. The Badgers are coming off a rough 5-7 season, the worst for the program since 2001 — also the last time UW missed a bowl game. Once again, head coach Luke Fickell had to revamp the roster, adding 20 scholarship transfers to the fold, two of which didn’t even make it through spring ball and took their talents elsewhere.
Then there’s the schedule, which many say is the toughest in the country. The Badgers will travel to Alabama, Michigan, and Oregon while hosting Ohio State, Iowa, and Illinois at home. As it stands now, UW may be favored in just four games the entire season.
The bullets won’t start flying for real until late August, but one reason the Badgers aren’t batting an eye yet is the addition of quarterback Billy Edwards, a transfer from Maryland who has quickly won over the locker room and taken the reins of a football team in desperate need of leadership.
“The connection that Billy is making with a lot of people is what’s going to make him different,” Fickell told reporters during spring practice. He’s a very mature guy who understands and believes in what team means and looks like. His ability to connect with a lot of different guys and different groups – you see the balls that are thrown at times, but the time spent in other rooms and the time spent individually, is something that will show a lot further down the road.”
Breaking in their fourth starting quarterback in as many seasons, UW looks to finally get some stability at the most important position in sports, something they haven’t had since 2019 when Jack Coan piloted the Badgers to Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl appearances. In three seasons at the helm, Fickell has brought in three senior transfer quarterbacks alone.
In 2023, Tanner Mordecai had an admirable season all things considered. While UW went just 7-6, the Badgers did win two out of three trophy games. Missing four games due to a broken hand, Mordecai, now with the San Francisco 49ers, went 6-3 in games he started and finished. The following season, UW signed Tyler Van Dyke out of Miami (FL). That train came to a stop before it ever got started. After winning his first two games, Van Dyke suffered a torn ACL in the week three loss to Alabama. From there, the Badgers had to rely on backup Braedyn Locke, now at Arizona. Locke and the Badgers would ultimately lose their final five games, failing to clinch bowl eligibility.
As mentioned, Edwards will face something neither of his predecessors did — one of the nation’s most daunting schedules with very few gimmes and no extended breaks in the slate.
Beginning his career at Wake Forest, Edwards transferred to Maryland ahead of the 2022 season. A starter in 2024, Edwards threw for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns to nine interceptions, leading the Terrapins to a 4-8 record. While some of his individual and team stats left a lot to be desired, Edwards was fairly coveted in the transfer portal. His decision ultimately came down to Michigan and UW.
Per sources, what ultimately swung Edwards to Madison was UW’s desire for his services. The Wolverines, who won the national championship in 2023 and signed the nation’s top-ranked quarterback, Bryce Underwood, in 2025, were going to be fine with or without Edwards. The Badgers couldn’t afford not to have someone like Edwards under center this fall.
“One thing for me, my mindset throughout college football has been all about opportunity. And I think there’s a great one here for me,” Edwards said during spring practice. “It was a no-brainer for me.”
According to Edwards, a native of Burke, Va., the biggest transition at UW has been remembering to leave his house with a hat, coat, and gloves.
Edwards has appeared in 26 games, including 12 starts under center, all with the Terps. He played just one season with the Demon Deacons and redshirted before opting to transfer. Upon signing with the Badgers, Edwards made an immediate point of emphasis to learn his teammates off the field, something that came quite easily and naturally.
“I’ve walked into a lot of different locker rooms. This is my second time transferring,” Edwards noted. “I think this is the best locker room I’ve walked into in terms of people.”
Edwards isn’t the only new toy for UW on offense this season. Edwards will help the Badgers get back to business as usual with the help of offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, who brings a pro-style offensive attack predicated on a violent, in-between the tackles run game, pre-snap and post-snap misdirection, and a willingness to take shots down the field.
That relationship took off right away during Edwards’ official visit in December. Talking ball, breaking down X’s and O’s, Edwards and Grimes found it difficult to break away from one another and get to the parts of the visit.
After spring ball, Grimes said he’s getting exactly what he bargained for in year one at UW.
“Everything is kind of what I thought it would be with him, and maybe, just a little bit more,” he said. “The people that I talked to before we offered him and the conversations that I had getting to know him, everything led me to believe that he was going to be a smart, tough, competitive kid who was going to do everything that he could to be successful and be a leader.
“And he’s been all of that.”
While Edwards is a one-year rental, he’s entrenched himself in the program. Taking part in a UW football history crash course, Edwards can now spout off all sorts of random facts about the Badgers, including when Camp Randall Stadium was built.
Always early and eager, Edwards is often days ahead of the weekly plan. Grimes recalls a situation where, on a Tuesday, Edwards was already asking for the install for Thursday’s practice. Reviewing film after each session, Edwards is checking with Grimes on not just his own play, but the play of his other 10 running mates on offense, checking to make sure splits are correct, plays were run properly, etc.
“His preparation, I would say, is well above what most college quarterbacks are,” said Grimes. “What he does before he shows up is significant in terms of getting ready for practice in a physical, mental, emotional standpoint, he shows up ready to go every day.”
Quarterbacks coach Kenny Guiton, who served as the team’s wide receivers coach last season, can concur.
“He works his but off,” said Guiton. “He’s in the building just as much as us coaches.”
The highs for Edwards in 2024 were often great. He ranked second in the Big Ten with 261.9 passing yards per game. His 273 completions also stood fourth in the league. In an Oct. 19 win over USC, Edwards threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns on 39-for-50 passing, becoming just the second player in the Big Ten in the last two seasons with at least 350 passing yards and 35 completions. Against Indiana, Edwards lit it up again, throwing for 289 yards and three touchdowns with no picks.
The challenge for UW and Edwards? Turn those flashes into the norm.
“Now is the time to go from good to great,” said Guiton. “He knows what it takes to get that done. He has that ‘it’ and everybody needs to see it every practice, every game.”
In Grimes’ offense, Edwards is being asked to play under center and control the game more. Grimes’ multiplicity and willingness to play through his personnel rather than stick to a tried and true game plan is where Edwards is also learning the first year coordinator.
When things get difficult, Edwards likes to fall back on his training. Aiding Edwards with that transition is what he feels is a much more strenuous off-season workout regimen. Being pushed outside his comfort zone, both on and off the field, Edwards feels a little revitalized in some ways.
“Everything about this program is tough and hard. And, it’s intentional,” he said. “They do it on purpose and I love it, because you know what? Saturdays are hard.”
Grimes also won’t be afraid to use Edwards as a runner. As a junior, Edwards ran for 150 yards and five scores. He owns 13 rushing touchdowns in the last three seasons. If spring was any indication, the Badgers want to use Edwards and his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame to wear down defenses.
“He’s just a dog,” redshirt freshman Dilin Jones said. “He is not scared of anything at all. He’s not scared of contact.”
According to On3, Edwards was the No. 24 ranked transfer quarterback in the portal, including the fifth-best transfer QB in the Big Ten.
A graduate student, Edwards will represent UW at Big Ten media days later this month. Already hearing that clock tick on his career, Edwards hopes his final season will be a memorable one.
“This is my last year of college football. Really just soak it all up and make the most of it that way, so when I’m done here in 10-11 months, I have no regrets.”
