With Jack Coan presumably sidelined for a good portion of the season, or at least the early part of the schedule, it’s assumed that Graham Mertz will be the leader under center for Wisconsin to start the year. The redshirt freshman appears ready for the challenge.

Coan sustained a foot injury last weekend in practice and had successful surgery earlier in the week. How long Coan, who was last year’s starter, will be out is still listed as “indefinite.”

That puts Mertz into the No. 1 spot heading into Wisconsin’s season opener against Illinois on Oct. 24. Though he’s seen limited time on the field, Mertz is prepared to take over the offesne.

According to Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Mertz says he’s been “preparing every day as if he would start.”

Mertz came to Wisconsin as a 4-star quarterback, and he created a ton of excitement about the future of the Badgers’ offense. Because of Coan’s success in leading the Badgers to 10 wins and a B1G West title, Mertz didn’t see much game action. He appeared in two games, completing 9-of-10 pass attempts for 73 yards.

Mertz also understood the basic concept of his role as the starter at Wisconsin. His primary goal is to take care of the football, giving his team the best chance possible to win games.

“The ball is everything,” Mertz said. “You turn it over you lose games. You put it in the end zone you win games.”

Wisconsin is scheduled to take on Illinois in the first weekend of the season on Oct. 24. The Badgers are looking for revenge, after falling in an upset loss to the Fighting Illini in Champaign in 2019.