Chase Wolf the QB That Never Was

When the news broke yesterday that Chase Wolf was not coming back in 2023 the first thing that came to my mind was what took him so long?

Now I don’t want to disparage the kid but let's look at the facts. Chase has been in the program for five years and despite the Badgers inconsistent QB play in that time he was never called upon to contribute, and when he was during mop up time or due to a Mertz injury he was never good. He has averaged an intercept about one in every seven pass attempt and that INCLUDES his start in the bowl game. He has a decent arm but QB play is so much more than arm talent. The key factor is trust and that leads us directly into 2023.

With the upcoming season being Year 1 of a major rebuild of our offensive philosophy it is important that Phil Longo has a QB that he can trust and one that he doesn’t have to spend a huge amount of time coaching up to handle the job. Chase has spent five seasons in a system that is the antithesis of the Air Raid in which he was never able to be a factor. To compete for the starting job would require a bottom up rebuild if his entire game from his footwork to his vision. Now he is a smart kid with a live arm but when you look at the cost/benefit analysis of all that work you see a plan that just isn’t worth it in comparison to the other QBs now in the program.

Tanner Mordecai is from the same recruiting class as Wolf but his advantage is he has spent five seasons working in offensive systems very similar to what Longo is bringing in with four of those five being in Air Raid systems developed by Mike Leach disciples. He knows the plays and concepts he will just need to learn the footwork and his teammates. Nick Evers and Braedyn Lock while only redshirt freshmen also come from Air Raid systems both in high school and college. Even Myles Burkett ran a more wide open offense in high school. Cole LaCrue is a true freshman with years to relearn the game. Which leaves Wolf.

Is it worth it to take reps away from a clear starter or young depth that already has familiarity with the system to give them to a 6th year senior who is out the door at end of the season. The cruel but accurate answer is no. Chase Wolf is about to go pro in something other than football and this is just a nudge in that direction. You can’t go from 2nd to 4th on the depth chart despite two QBs leaving and expect to be given a chance to compete. He has his chance and now it's someone else’s turn.

I wish Chase Wolf luck in whatever he decides to do next. If he ends up catching on somewhere else I hope he crushes it on the field, but all is fair in love and war…football is a war and I like the group of soldiers we have leading the way.