He Barely Saw the Field at Wisconsin. Now, After a Wild Journey, This Former Badger QB Has Seized a Starting Role.

RICHMOND, KY – The winding, often unforgiving road of college football has delivered Myles Burkett to a new home, and this time, he's been handed the keys to the entire offense. In a move that caps a turbulent multi-year journey, the former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback was officially named the starting signal-caller for the Eastern Kentucky Colonels for the upcoming 2025 season. This announcement marks a monumental turning point in a career defined by perseverance, patience, and the relentless pursuit of an opportunity.

For fans in his home state, Burkett's name will ring a familiar bell. He arrived at the University of Wisconsin as a promising three-star recruit from Franklin in the class of 2022, a local kid with dreams of one day leading the Badgers at Camp Randall. His time in Madison, however, was frustratingly brief. As a true freshman, he saw action in just two games, offering a tantalizing glimpse of his potential by completing a near-perfect four of five passes for 84 yards against New Mexico. But that was the peak of his Wisconsin tenure. Burkett navigated the program's turbulent transition from head coach Paul Chryst to Luke Fickell but found himself buried on the depth chart, failing to take a single snap during the entire 2023 campaign. His path at his home-state school had hit a dead end, forcing him to look elsewhere.

Seeking meaningful playing time, Burkett entered the transfer portal and landed at Albany for the 2024 season. His year with the Great Danes proved to be a trial by fire. Over nine starts, he showed flashes of the talent that made him a prized recruit but also struggled with consistency. He finished the year completing 54.7% of his passes for 1,840 yards, and while he tossed 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions highlighted a season of crucial, if challenging, on-field learning. It was a necessary detour that provided invaluable experience.

Now, after another trip through the ever-spinning portal, Burkett has landed at Eastern Kentucky, a respected program in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and has immediately made his mark. Being named the undisputed QB1 is a massive vote of confidence from the Colonels' coaching staff and a testament to the resilience of a player who refused to let his career stall on the sidelines. It's the fresh start he has been fighting for since leaving Madison two years ago. For Myles Burkett, the long journey from a Badger backup to a starter-in-training at Albany has finally culminated in what every quarterback craves: a team to call his own and a definitive chance to prove he belongs under center. The 2025 season in Richmond will be his to define.