Here's a look back at Jim Sorgi's career with Wisconsin football

He was recruited out of Michigan and sort of got a job over John Navarre

Wisconsin QB Jim Sorgi watches from the sideline in 2003.

It hadn't been since 1991 that a high-school quarterback from Wisconsin had been given a Division I scholarship (Mike Statz of Oregon). At the time Sorgi was being recruited out of Fraser, Michigan, Cudahy star John Navarre had committed to Northwestern, then shifted gears to Michigan when Northwestern coach Gary Barnett went to Colorado.

According to Journal Sentinel reporting, Navarre spoke to Wisconsin coaches, but Barry Alvarez said he could only offer Navarre a spot as a tight end because he had promised Sorgi and Oconomowoc's Scott Wille that he would only recruit two quarterbacks in that class.

Navarre, the only player from Wisconsin ranked top-100 among high-school recruits in the country by at least one publication, went on to set Michigan career passing records for attempts, completions and yards.

When Sorgi arrived, UW's quarterback situation was uncertain

Badgers Jim Sorgi eludes an Illinois rush in the fourth quarter of a game Oct. 20, 2022.

With Mike Samuel departing from a team that won the Rose Bowl, the starting quarterback job in 1999 came down to Bollinger and Scott Kavanagh, with major promise from the two freshmen on the roster – Wille and Sorgi.

After Kavanagh broke out of the gate as the starter, early losses to Cincinnati and Michigan promoted a change to Bollinger, who led the team to a 10-2 record and a repeat Rose Bowl title.

Bollinger became Big Ten Freshman of the Year, though record-setting running back Ron Dayne was obviously the top story. Sorgi and Wille were merely backup plans that season.

Sorgi played starring role as a backup in 2000

Sorgi, Wille and freshman Matt Schabert were all in contention to serve as Bollinger's backup in 2000, and Sorgi won the job.

Playing in his home state against Michigan State, Sorgi relieved an injured Bollinger and threw a 45-yard touchdown pass in the final minute – a risky pass to Lee Evans that caught defenders off-guard – to give the Badgers a 17-10 victory in October. The throw came one play after Michael Bennett picked up a necessary fourth-and-1.

Sorgi immediately became a popular option among Badgers fans to replace Bollinger. UW had started the year ranked No. 4 but had lost three straight Big Ten games, including to top-10 foes Michigan and Ohio STate, before facing off with Michigan State. UW went 9-4 that year before winning the Sun Bowl.

With Bollinger still out with concussion, Sorgi's Badgers lost to nationally ranked Purdue in overtime, 30-24, though Sorgi completed 21 of 29 passes and threw for two scores, a more efficient showing than his counterpart, future Pro Football Hall of Famer Drew Brees.

Bollinger was back for a win over Minnesota but got hurt the week after that against Indiana, and Sorgi again played well in a 43-22 win, throwing three touchdowns with no interceptions. Sorgi played only sparingly the rest of the way.

Sorgi and Bollinger shared the job in 2001-02, but Bollinger was essentially the starter

They headed into the 2001 season with a legitimate position battle between the incumbent Bollinger and upstart Sorgi.

The two basically split the job in 2001, with Sorgi finishing 64-of-132 with 1,096 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. The Badgers went 3-5 in his appearances and finished 5-7 overall, a disappointing season that ended without a bowl game and a 42-31 loss to Minnesota.

Sorgi played in 11 games behind Bollinger in 2002, but he finished just 38-of-70 with one touchdown and two interceptions. Those Badgers finished 8-6, though they won the Alamo Bowl over Colorado for their only win that year against a ranked opponent. Bollinger, drafted in the sixth round by the Jets a few months later, left the job in Sorgi's hands for 2003.

One sidenote: In 2001, Owen Daniels joined the program as a quarterback with a room full of possibilities, including Wille, Bollinger, Schabert, Sorgi and another freshman, Devin Hollins. Daniels, of course, wound up converting to tight end and became a force who made two Pro Bowls in 10 NFL seasons at the position.

Sorgi set a school record for touchdowns in a game in 2003

Jim Sorgi celebrates with teammates after he ran for a touchdown Sept. 27, 2003.

Again, a major Sorgi career highlight came against Michigan State, when he threw for five touchdowns, all to Evans, in a 56-21 win over Michigan State on Nov. 15.

He was coming off a four-touchdown performance in a loss to Minnesota the week before, giving him back-to-back 300-yard passing games (305 against Minnesota, 380 against Michigan State).

One more record: His 99-yard touchdown pass to Evans in a 2003 game against Akron also set a school mark and, naturally, tied the NCAA record for longest play from scrimmage.

High-profile choking incident knocked Sorgi out of game in 2003

Wisconsin QB Jim Sorgi tucks the ball for a 11-yard pick up for the Badgers against Akron on Sept. 6, 2003.

The Badgers scored a thrilling win over No. 3 Ohio State on Oct. 11, 2003, 17-10, highlighted by a 79-yard pass between Matt Schabert and Evans in the fourth quarter. Schabert was in the game because of an Ohio State player had intentionally choked Sorgi in a pile after a play, caught on-camera for all to see.

Ohio State linebacker Robert Reynolds intentionally threw his hands around Sorgi's neck after the whistle, injuring Sorgi's trachea and leaving him struggling to breathe and speak.

Sorgi was still able to play the next week, and Reynolds received a one-game suspension from OSU, later apologizing. But it was a remarkably dirty play.

Sorgi threw for 2,251 yards and 17 touchdowns that season, and the 7-6 Badgers lost in the Music City Bowl to Auburn.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Remember Jim Sorgi's Wisconsin football career; son to play at UW, too