What Luke Fickell said about Badgers QB Billy Edwards Jr. during national radio appearance

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell hit the national airwaves, or nowadays, the internet, for an interview with the Jim Rome Show earlier this week.

The conversation focused on everything from Wisconsin's outlook entering the 2025 season, the team's gauntlet schedule, the challenges of coaching during the current transfer portal era and college football's ongoing changes.

Among the most notable question-and-answer sequences focused on Wisconsin's new-look quarterback room, led by Maryland transfer Billy Edwards Jr. The room's struggles were a primary reason for the failure of Phil Longo's air raid offense during the last two seasons. Of course, injuries to starters Tanner Mordecai (2023) and Tyler Van Dyke (2024) figured into that equation.

Rome asked Fickell about where that position group stands entering 2025, not only with an established starter in Edwards, but also with added depth behind him.

"Well, I feel great about Billy," Fickell began. "I think Billy walking in here, playing in this league, but also being through what he has been through. He's been a leader since the day he walked in the door. The last two years, we’ve brought in quarterbacks who were thought to be the starter. But in some ways, we kind of said, ‘Hey, as you come in, you've got to earn this. You got to beat everybody else out.’ This year, walking in the door, it was like, ‘Hey, Billy, you're our guy. If you're coming here, you're the guy. You’ve got to start your leadership right now. You’ve got to embrace everybody. They got to follow you.' And he's done a phenomenal job of that. 

Edwards transferred in after a strong 2024 campaign as Maryland's starter, during which he completed 65% of his passes for 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Those numbers are even more impressive considering Maryland's conference-worst offensive line and overall lack of support.

Even with a significant injury to starting left tackle Kevin Heywood, Wisconsin projects to have a strong foundation around the senior signal-caller. New offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes has brought the program back to a more sustainable pro-style system, which should highlight a talented backfield of Dilin Jones, Darrion Dupree and Cade Yacamelli. Given health, the unit should have little trouble surpassing its per-game averages of 23.5 (No. 93 in the nation) and 22.6 (No. 109) points over the last two seasons, respectively.

Of course, health is never a true given, as seen by Heywood's absence and the program's quarterback injuries over the last two seasons. That reality increases the importance of depth in the room, which Fickell and his staff addressed by adding San Diego State starter Danny O'Neil, four-star class of 2025 recruit Carter Smith and Southern Illinois' Hunter Simmons.

Fickell discussed that depth during his interview with Rome.

"And then building some guys behind [Edwards]," Fickell continued. "Because if you look at us the last two years, unfortunately, our starting quarterback has missed the majority of the season. Year one with Tanner [Mordecai], he missed six games. Last year, we lost our quarterback in game three in the first quarter. And that room has been very, very thin for us. And I think moving forward right now, we feel really good, not just about Billy, but some other depth within that room that aren't just rookie freshmen."

"Being through what he has been through, he's a leader since the day he walked in the door."@CoachFick on transfer QB Billy Edwards, Jr. @BadgerFootballpic.twitter.com/qzxeFEPi2H— Jim Rome (@jimrome) June 10, 2025

Wisconsin starts its season on Thursday, Aug. 28, at home against Miami (OH). It only has two 'warmup' matchups, as the third week of nonconference play will see the team travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to face the top-ranked Crimson Tide.

It goes without saying that Wisconsin needs improved quarterback play for the team to reverse its current trajectory. Fickell has a confident tone when discussing the position, one that should give Badgers fans some confidence entering he campaign.

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell comments 2025 quarterback room