It didn’t take long for the Wisconsin Badgers and head coach Luke Fickell to find their new starting quarterback for the 2025 season. When BOTH Tyler Van Dyke and Braedyn Locke decided to transfer, you knew Fickell would attack the portal for his next QB1.
The call is in there too. Over the weekend, former San Diego State quarterback Danny O’Neil took his official visit to Madison to meet with Fickell and his staff. The trip could not have gone better for him, as O’Neil has reportedly put the pen to paper and signed with the Badgers. Soon enough, he’ll make the move to town and then get ready for what fans are hoping will be a great campaign:
Former San Diego State QB Danny O’Neil has signed with Wisconsin
What to know about Danny O’Neil, quarterback committing to Wisconsin in the transfer portal
The Wisconsin Badgers went into the offseason needing a quarterback — if not more than one — in the transfer portal, having lost potential returnees Tyler Van Dyke and Braedyn Locke.
News came Monday that they were bringing in San Diego State’s Danny O’Neil.
Here’s what to know about him:
How did Danny O’Neil play last year at San Diego State?
The true freshman started 11 games, completing 63.3% of his passes (209 of 330) for 2,181 yards; 12 touchdowns; and six interceptions, but those picks were concentrated in the middle of the season.
He opened the season by throwing 127 straight pass attempts without an interception and didn’t throw an interception over the season’s final five games.
He became the first freshman to start at San Diego State since the program became Division I in 1969.
The Aztecs were led by first-year coach Sean Lewis, who played college football at Wisconsin from 2004 through 2007.
San Diego State went 3-9 this season.
Where is Danny O’Neil from?
He’s from Indianapolis and attended Cathedral High School. He was a two-time City Player of the Year, as chosen by the Indy Star.
How big is Danny O’Neil?
He’s 6-0, 195 pounds. That’s almost identical to last year’s primary starter, Braedyn Locke (6-0, 205).
How many years of eligibility does Danny O’Neil have?
He has three years of eligibility remaining.
How did recruiting services rate Danny O’Neil?
Rivals and 247Sports listed him as a three-star prospect in the Class of 2024.
He originally committed to Colorado when Lewis was the offensive coordinator there but decommitted in November 2023 before following Lewis to SDSU.
He held offers from a number of schools, including Cincinnati, which offered him during the final months of Luke Fickell’s tenure as head coach. According to 247, other programs to offer were Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern, Kentucky, Louisville, Wake Forest, Illinois and Houston.
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