Wisconsin football: 5 things to be thankful for in 2018-19
![MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 08: Madison Cone #31 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts to a stop against the New Mexico Lobos during the first half at Camp Randall Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 08: Madison Cone #31 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts to a stop against the New Mexico Lobos during the first half at Camp Randall Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/05e180477c04cc6e8fad595a784bed0025f8d2e545be1bbc8e775bb0df454615.jpg)
3. Graham Mertz
Wisconsin fans have suffered through years of sub-par to par (at best) quarterback play. No matter how talented the team was as a whole, it always seemed like they were held down by the signal-caller. And that hasn’t changed this year.
The Badgers had a very high preseason ranking and even higher expectations, as they were looking to reach their first ever college playoff. Even though the defense lost a number of starters from the year before, Alex Hornibrook was expected to take the next step forward and provide the Badgers with some offense through the air. Oh, what idiots we all were.
The Badgers biggest weakness has been any sort of passing game. That’s where Graham Mertz enters the picture. Mertz is a four-star quarterback recruit out of Overland Park, Kansas. He’s lighting it up in his senior season and provides a light at the end of the tunnel. It may not be next season, but Mertz should develop into one of the better quarterbacks Wisconsin has seen.