There's no place like home for Tyler Donovan.
Donovan, the 23-year-old former Hartland Arrowhead and University of Wisconsin quarterback, is back in the Badger State, lining up behind center for the Milwaukee Iron in hte af2.
It's a far cry from Camp Randall Stadium and the high-profile Big Ten Conference, but Donovan is happy to be back in his hometown playing the game that he loves.
"I've been all over the place the last year," says Donovan. "There wasn't a better place for me to come than Milwaukee and this organization."
Donovan, the 2002 Associated Press High School Player of the Year, redshirted his freshman year and spent the majority of the next three seasons on the Badgers' bench before finally getting a starting shot during his junior season.
During his senior year, he won the starting job over junior transfer Allen Everidge and led Wisconsin to a 9-4 record. He completed 193 of 333 pass attempts for 2,607 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Donovan was 14-of-24 for 155 yards with a touchdown in the Badgers' 21-17 loss to Tennessee in the Outback Bowl.
Standing just 6-foot-1 and weighing slightly less than 200 pounds, Donovan was projected to be an undrafted free agent and chose, instead, to head north to the Canadian Football League.
He signed a three-year contract with the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos last April. His time in Canada wasn't long; the Eskimos released Donovan in June, after competing with three other veteran quarterbacks for preseason playing time.
Donovan's agent, John Perla, said that his client had piqued the interest of a number of Arena Football League teams before that league suspended operations for the coming season. With Canada out and the AFL on hiatus, the Iron came calling and it turned out to be a natural fit.
It's been a learning process for Donovan. Indoor football is a much different game than the one he played wearing the cardinal and white. He's had to adjust to the speed of the game; the shorter field leaves little time for deep drops or complicated pass patterns. Donovan can also run a little bit, and will be able to put that ability to good use on the carpet.
"Everything happens a lot quicker in arena ball," Donovan says. "Timing is everything. It's all about quick reads and quick releases. It's a big change from the outdoor game, but it's exciting."
In the short time he's been with the Iron, he's made a positive impression on his new coach.
"He's still learning this game," says Compton -- himself a former standout Arena Football player. "It's hard. He does what he does best; get back, see somebody open and throw it. Or he gets back and makes plays when he scrambles. He takes what he learned and did at Wisconsin and is doing well adapting that to here."
Compton also points out that Donovan's presence lends a bit of credibility for a fledgling franchise trying to attract customers.
"It's a huge draw to have a local kid like Tyler," says head coach Gary Compton. "He was a starter and a playmaker at Wisconsin. Anytime you can get a player like that, people can attach to ... it's very big."
Donovan made his af2 debut in the Iron's season-opener Friday night at the Bradley Center, going 11-of-27 for 149 yards and a pair of touchdowns as Milwaukee dropped its inaugural game, 60-38, to Iowa.
It feels good to be back home for now, but Donovan hopes to use his experience in af2 to move up to the next level. He knows the realities and how difficult the process will be, but isn't deterred.
"My ambitions are to keep playing football," Donovan says. "It's all about being in the right place at right time. I felt really good about coming back to Milwaukee, playing the arena game and getting some good film.
"You get good reps here, it's competitive and there are good players. You can really show what you've got."
Compton is happy to have a player with Donovan's experience on the roster but knows that the better his quarterback plays, the lesser the chance he returns for next season. The coach says that comes with the territory and hopes that's the case a year from now.
"I tell these guys that, if they're here next year, either they didn't do their job or I didn't do my job," Compton says. "If you're satisfied with doing what you do here, then why are you here? This is a stepping-stone. We use this as a stepping stone to the AFL, the CFL and the NFL. That's what we want."
