MERKEL — When one sees Merkel’s Easton “Moose” Malone standing on the sidelines for the first time, they may assume he’s an offensive or defensive lineman. At 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds, he’s certainly big enough to take on both challenges. 

Well, he is neither.

In fact, Malone is so athletic, that he is the Badgers’ starting quarterback — with equally dangerous abilities to pass and run. And when he’s not behind center, he’s occupying the middle of the Merkel defense, as a sure-footed, quick, sound-tacking middle linebacker. 

Since his freshman year, he’s gone from a ninth-grader seeking respect to an upper classman whose name precedes him. And he has a level of confidence to illustrate it.