Braedyn Locke ready to take on the challenge of leading Wisconsin's offense

MADISON – The scene was embarrassing, to say the least.

That day in August, when Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo announced that Tyler Van Dyke would be the team’s starting quarterback, it was the day that Badgers signal-callers were scheduled to speak with the media.

The timing of it all meant Braedyn Locke had the pleasure of standing in front of reporters and answering questions about why he didn’t get the job. Talk about a difficult mission. His disappointment was impossible to hide, even though he handled it with the level of composure you need from a guy in the hottest position in the game.

Then he returned to work.

“Obviously it’s not the best thing to hear you’re going to be No. 2 this season, but he was consistent in what he did every day,” receiver CJ Williams said.

This work and approach is not only why Locke has confidence in his ability to lead the team in the wake of Van Dyke’s season-ending knee injury, but also why so many of his teammates believe in it.

Ask them about Locke and they’ll talk about someone who does all the right things, who engenders confidence because of his mastery of the offense and the way he carries himself.

“Honestly, he came in with that when he came in last year,” senior center Jake Renfro said of Locke’s arrogance. “He’s definitely a special cat. I love having him behind me. I love playing for him, that’s for sure.

Locke will make his first start of the season Saturday afternoon against No. 16 USC at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (2:30 p.m. kickoff, CBS).

The redshirt sophomore takes over a Badgers offense that has struggled to make big plays and push the ball downfield. UW ranks 13th^th or worse in the Big Ten in terms of scoring, total yards and passing yards per game.

Can Locke launch the attack?

“I think the confidence he has to control the offense really shows,” redshirt sophomore guard Joe Brunner said. “Last year he was thrown into the same situation and he did a great job, so I think going out on that field, knowing the playbook inside and out and being able to run an offense with complete confidence is what I saw and it’s special. Everyone supports him.

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Locke learned from last year’s experience and has grown on offense since

This marks the second straight year a Badgers starting quarterback has missed time due to injury. Tanner Mordecai broke a bone in his hand in the first half against Iowa last season and missed the next three games.

UW lost that game, but Locke led the Badgers to a comeback victory against Illinois the following week. That was followed by a loss to No. 3 Ohio State at home and a loss to Indiana on the road.

He finished the season with 777 yards, five touchdowns and one interception, but his 50% completion rate (76 of 152) was low for a Division I starter. He will need to complete a higher percentage of throws to win games.

This stretch, however, proved invaluable to Locke.

“For me, overall, it was really good to feel all the emotions that you feel in a season just in those three weeks,” he said. “You get a victory. You play a tough game and then you have a tough loss, a game you shouldn’t lose, so I think that’s helped me now and will continue to help me as I move forward.

A year later, Locke’s offensive mastery has become stronger. He is physically improved.

And above all, his connection with the incumbents is stronger. He spent the entire spring and two weeks of fall camp competing for the starting job, so he and Van Dyke alternated equally between the first and second units. When Locke entered the lineup against Iowa last season, his level of familiarity with the No. 1 unit wasn’t close to what it is now.

There’s also something to be said for facing a top-five team like Ohio State in a night game or playing on the road like he did at Illinois and Indiana.

“I went there. I felt the bullets flying,” he said. “I know what it’s like to prepare. I know what it’s like to work on a weekly basis now. It was short-lived but it certainly gave me a lot.

In a relief role, Locke completed 13 of 26 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown in a 42-10 loss to Alabama. He led a 17-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter and set the team up for a field goal drive with a 10-play, 57-yard possession in the second quarter.

He didn’t throw an interception but fumbled twice, even though a teammate recovered the ball each time.

The bye week offered Locke and the Badgers a chance to adjust

Locke and the coaches then had a week off to digest his game and adjust to him taking over the reins of the offense.

He didn’t have the luxury of much time to prepare when he replaced Mordecai last season. Locke doesn’t have Van Dyke’s size or mobility, but the Badgers could run the offense with more pace with Locke under center.

“The bye week definitely gave us a chance to get more reps and watch USC and just gives us a chance to prepare longer than we needed to,” he said. “I definitely think it’ll be good when you have a new starting quarterback. I think it came at the right time and I think we used him the right way, that’s for sure.”

While Wisconsin enters the game hoping to bounce back from a 32-point loss, USC enters the contest coming off a loss to Michigan in which the defense allowed 290 rushing yards.

Combine the expected energy of a packed house for the first Big Ten home game in USC history and the Badgers will have their hands full, but Locke understands the opportunity that awaits him.

“I’m grateful for it,” he said. “You don’t want Tyler to fall or anything like that.” You hate it for him. I have to intervene. I have to do my job and so I’m extremely excited and ready to do what I can do.