Entering his senior year of high school, Tyler Donovan knew scouts were at his games, watching him play football. But instead of taking a scholarship for granted, Donovan, a native of Hartland, Wis., played hard and racked up big numbers his senior year: 1,650 yards passing and 16 touchdowns, complemented by 455 rushing yards on only 45 carries.
In a run-oriented offense, Donovan posted impressive stats that got him noticed. As a senior, Donovan was awarded first-team all-state honors by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin Player of the Year by the Associated Press, leading Arrowhead High School to the Division I state finals.
Instead of acting like he deserved to start immediately, Donovan knew he would have to prove his worth to get his shot at quarterback for the Badgers. Donovan red-shirted his first year in 2003, as then senior quarterback Jim Sorgi was the unanimous starter. Over the next three years, John Stocco would own the job as Badger quarterback, starting 35 consecutive games. That left Donovan waiting for his turn, only getting action off the bench in nine games during the 2004 and 2005 seasons, connecting on five of his nine passes in those games. Instead of complaining, Donovan continued to work hard, and in the few games he was able to play, he showcased his running ability with 147 rushing yards on 17 carries.
With Stocco entering the 2006 season as a senior, Donovan once again was relegated to the role of backup. But when Stocco was injured before the Iowa game, Donovan saw his chance and took full advantage. Playing on the road in hostile Kinnick Stadium and starting his first college game, Donovan showed everyone the quarterback he was to become. He threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for more than 60 yards.
Head coach Bret Bielema was so impressed by Donovan's performance that he rested a recovered John Stocco the next weekend against Buffalo. Donovan responded with another huge game through the air, throwing for 308 yards and two touchdowns.
Last year, the two games where [Donovan] had to fill in at the quarterback spot, that's the way he handles himself and the way he plays the quarterback position,"" running back P.J. Hill said. ""Through that, I feel that he came a long way up until this point. He's making good decisions and he's the guy you can depend on to get some yardage. He can run, he has good speed, he has moves and I feel that he handles the huddle very well.""
Those two games should have cemented Donovan as a starter this season, but as a senior, he now had competition from the talented Allan Evridge. Evridge, a transfer from Kansas State, originally transferred before the 2006 season, but because of NCAA rules was forced to sit out that year. Thus, the stage was set for another battle at the quarterback position, with Donovan entering his senior year and Evridge his first in Wisconsin's offense. Donovan again was forced to prove himself to win the starter's job, and since last spring, he has done exactly that. Following a great spring and summer camp, Bielema named Donovan the starter for his fifth and final season.
""I worked on a lot of the X's and O's [this summer], learning the game a little bit more,"" Donovan said, ""and I spent a lot of time working on timing with receivers and just getting our offense in form to get a little more out of us.""
The Badger quarterback has carried over these improvements from camp into the regular season, leading the Badgers to a 4-0 start and a No. 9 ranking in the national polls. Donovan has been consistent the whole season, but his biggest play may have come the second week against UNLV. Trailing 13-12, Donovan orchestrated a Badger drive 61 yards downfield that he capped off with a 29-yard touchdown run, with 1:53 left in the game to give Wisconsin the 20-13 victory.
""My expectations are high, and I'm my worst critic,"" Donovan said. ""I came here to win football games, and having an opportunity to do that, it's something that you work for and it's a dream come true.
