Alex Hornibrook (concussion) out; Jack Coan to start at quarterback for Wisconsin

EVANSTON, ILL.—Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst confirmed Jack Coan will start at quarterback in place of injured redshirt junior Alex Hornibrook at Northwestern on Saturday.

In an interview with FOX’s Bruce Feldman that aired on BTN Tailgate on Saturday morning, Chryst announced the move that the second-year signal caller will get his first action of the season, and subsequently first start of his young career.

Late this week, reports surfaced about Hornibrook being placed in concussion protocol and his status unclear for No. 20 Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) heading into a key Big Ten West contest.

A Sayville, N.Y., native, Coan played in six games last year as a true freshman, completing all five of his passing attempts. This year, however, he has not seen a snap as redshirt freshman Danny Vanden Boom has received action during mop-up opportunities.

That has allowed Coan, currently a second-year sophomore, to potentially redshirt with the new NCAA rule so long as he does not play more than four games this season.

Now, Coan has an opportunity to help Wisconsin continue its climb to a Big Ten West division title, though he will face a difficult environment at Ryan Field in Evanston.