Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics

Varsity - April 17, 2022

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35 his redshirt season and he opted to transfer to a ju- nior college, there was never any doubt in Campa- nile's mind that he would resurface again as a QB. "He can be a pro," he said. "From an athletic stand- point, with his size, he can do some really good things. If he keeps working on his mechanics, I be- lieve a lot of good things will happen for him. "I talked to him and texted with him throughout the spring. Whenever he comes home, we get to- gether and he throws to the kids on our team. He has always been a willing learner." Campanile was well aware of how McEvoy strug- gled at quarterback during preseason camp last fall. "He knew that he wasn't maybe as prepared as he wanted to be," Campanile said. "He's really honest with himself and he doesn't try to fool himself into thinking, 'I was doing great.' "One of the things that happens with a lot of quarterbacks is that when they don't un- derstand the system well, it's hard to focus on their mechanics and sometimes things go by the wayside." By the same token, Campanile wasn't sur- prised when McEvoy turned some heads at safety. "He's such a dynamic athlete and great com- petitor," he said. "He can play safety and he would be an unbelievable receiver. But I also think that he can be a heckuva quarterback." On Saturday, Campanile saw a much more confident McEvoy. "It was great to see what he's done and how he has stayed with it," he said. "Really, every time that he has gotten a shot to do something, he has been pretty darn good. "When we made him the QB at Bergen, he pretty much set every single-season record. Obviously during his freshman year at South Carolina, he wasn't in a position to play. "But he went to a junior college and once he settled in, he did great there. I really believe, given the right opportunity, that he will do a great job at Wisconsin. "He's one of those guys if you keep throwing him out there, the player that you have at the end is really going to be a phenomenal player. He's worth the investment of your time as a coach." • • • • I n so many words, Andersen was saying the same things after the Badgers' scrimmage. In particu- lar, he pointed out how McEvoy was carrying himself more like the quarterback the coaching staff had envisioned. "When he walked in here before (the fall)," Ander- sen said, "he carried himself like a quarterback that was absorbing a very difficult offense and new ter- minology. "The demeanor that he carried himself with last August and the way he carries himself today is really completely different. "You can always have the athleticism and ability to throw the football. But you've got to fit within the system and what I'm most proud about Tanner is "He's one of those guys if you keep throwing him out there, the player that you have at the end is really going to be a phenomenal player," Campanile said of McEvoy. DAN SANGER / ICON SMI

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