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Breaking: Wisconsin QB Alex Hornibrook will not play vs. Northwestern

Tyler Waddell

By Tyler Waddell

Published:

Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst has announced that starting quarterback Alex Hornibrook will not play in today’s Big Ten West showdown with Northwestern, according to the Wisconsin State Journal’s Tom Oates. Sophomore Jack Coan will make his first career start.

Though he wasn’t listed on the injury report Wednesday, it was reported Thursday that Hornibrook was in concussion protocol and “questionable” to start this weekend.

Coan, a former three-star prospect, was a three-time All-Long Island first-team selection at Sayville High School. He owns the Long Island career record in passing touchdowns (128) and passing yards (9,787). He also has the Long Island single-season records for touchdown passes (40) and passing yards (3,431), setting both in 2014.

“I think he’s been great,” Chryst said, per the Wisconsin State Journal. “I think he’s been really purposeful in his work and preparation . . . I think he’s enjoying and appreciating the opportunity to truly keep learning. Last year, when you’re a freshman, you’re going through a lot of stuff. All of them are firsts. So now he’s been around, taken one lap around the track, and so I’ve been pleased and appreciate the way he’s handled it.”

This news comes at a difficult time for Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten), which enters Week 9 banged up on defense and in desperate need of a big win after getting blown out by Michigan by 25 points two weeks ago. The Badgers still control their own destiny in the West, but Northwestern (4-3, 4-1) has won 11 of its last 12 B1G games, winning four of its first five conference games for the first time since 2000.

Hornibrook has attempted all but one pass for the Badgers in 2018. In 2017, Coan went 5-for-5 for 36 yards.

Tyler Waddell

Tyler has covered college football on a freelance basis since 2010. In addition to Saturday Football, his work has been featured on ESPN Radio, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, Cox Media Group, Athlon Sports, and more.