What to expect from Wisconsin football quarterback Danny O'Neil
Taking a look at a confident QB who provides something similar and something different from Billy Edwards Jr.
MADISON, Wis. — There’s plenty of moxie to Danny O’Neil’s game, but he also can bring more than personality to the University of Wisconsin offense.
Starting left guard Joe Brunner saw O’Neil’s swagger firsthand when he came in for an injured Billy Edwards Jr. during the Badgers’ season-opening win last week. Brunner even said the sophomore signal caller “talked some smack” when facing Miami (Ohio).
O’Neil, who started as a freshman at San Diego State, likely will be called upon further when Wisconsin (1-0) hosts Middle Tennessee State (0-1) for a 3 p.m. kickoff Saturday. Coach Luke Fickell said Tuesday that he didn’t believe Edwards, who was still listed on the Week 2 depth chart, would play this week. That subsequently would bump O’Neil up to QB1 with transfer Hunter Simmons acting as the backup.
O’Neil’s dual-threat skill set can fit within Wisconsin’s “NFL-style” offense. Fickell said he loves “an athletic arrogance,” and he believes O’Neil “straddles the line” of self-assurance and being cocky.
“I think he does a really good job. I think it's authentic,” Fickell said. “I think he really does have a confidence in what he does, and you can see it every single day. But there's a lot of growth, and I'm sure he will be the first to tell you that, while he was prepared, he also probably recognized some areas where, ‘Okay, I got to do a better job in my opportunities to run this team and run this offense.’
“So there'll be a lot of growth. I think that the old cliche of every coach, right, between Game 1 and Game 2 is where you see some of the greatest growth. I think you'll see some of the greatest growth in just the way that some of those guys that had opportunities for the first time go about their business to prepare for the way to play.”