How will the Badgers keep Colton Joseph healthy while maximizing dual threat ability?

Sep 13, 2025; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Old Dominion Monarchs quarterback Colton Joseph (1) warms up before the game at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images | Brian Bishop-Imagn Images The Wisconsin Badgers made it a priority to target a dual-threat quarterback in the transfer portal this offseason, coming away with their top target: Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph. Joseph, a redshirt sophomore in 2025, threw for 2,624 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions last season, averaging over 15 yards per completion as a downfield passer.

But it was his rushing ability that caught the most eyes, as Joseph ran for over 1,000 yards, securing double-digit rushing touchdowns for the second straight year. That included a game against the Indiana Hoosiers last year, where Joseph had 179 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Transferring up to the Big 10, Joseph will face a lot of questions about how sustainable that style is in one of the most physical conferences in the country.

Of course, there have already been issues with the Badgers and quarterback health, with the starter getting injured in each of the last three seasons. So, how will Wisconsin look to keep Joseph healthy while maximizing his dual threat ability? “I think if you make the decision to go and recruit athletic quarterbacks, which we have, all the guys that we have now are guys that can run, whether you’re talking about Colton or the other guys.

When you make that decision to go that direction, then that’s a part of your game,” offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes said this week. “And you have to be willing to live with the fact that they are going to be exposed to contact a little bit more maybe than a guy that’s not in that position. How much you do that and how often you do that, I think depends on the quarterback himself.