Greg McElroy believes Tanner Mordecai’s success will translate to Wisconsin, Big Ten

Tanner Mordecai had quite the career in college but he could save his best for last at Wisconsin, according to Greg McElroy.

The former Oklahoma and SMU quarterback got his chance with the Mustangs and lit it up over the last few years. Now he’s back in the Power Five with Wisconsin and Luke Fickell on a Big Ten championship contender.

McElroy said all of the success at SMU should translate well with the Badgers.

“The 20 plus games at SMU, I believe it’s going to translate to Wisconsin,” McElroy said on Always College Football. “People will point to the spring game and say ‘Greg, well we just talked about ball security with Taulia (Tagovailoa).’ And I understand that Tanner Mordecai threw a bunch of picks in the spring game. I also understand that Phil Longo’s offense is an offense that requires an awful lot of reps to get really, really comfortable.

“And Tanner Mordecai having played in an offense somewhat similar, it’s not exactly an apples to apples comparison, they will still probably lean on the run game.” 

If Mordecai can adjust to Longo’s offense and use previous experience, it should be a fine transition. In the last two years at SMU, Mordecai finished with 7,152 yards, 72 touchdowns, 22 interceptions and a 66.4% completion percentage.

“(Wisconsin) still (feels) pretty good about their wide receivers, at least at this point,” McElroy said. “But ultimately, this is an offense that requires the quarterback and wide receiver to be on the same page. Without signaling a specific route, you got to feel space, you got to feel zones, you got to feel separation, you got to understand when a guy is going to break things out, or he’s going to sit it down or he’s going to go vertical. 

“All those things are incorporated into this offense. So it’s an expensive offense to learn. But once you learn it, you’re going to become lights out. I’m a believer in Tanner Mordecai. I’ve seen when he did when he was at SMU. The guy threw for 7000 yards and seventy touchdowns. That’s a pretty good two year stint as the starting quarterback.”

It’s essentially Mordecai’s last dance and he’ll be on display in the Big Ten. Now’s the time for him to really step it up at Wisconsin.

McElroy ranked Mordecai the No. 3 quarterback in the Big Ten at this moment.

“So Tanner Mordecai is a guy with a lot of potential, throws a really pretty ball and a really good ball down the field as well,” McElroy said. “I think he is primed to have a big time year for Wisconsin. When was the last time by the way Wisconsin had a top three quarterback in the Big Ten? Feels like it’s been a little while.”