With a new quarterback in place, an old receiver returning and one of the nation’s leading rushers in the backfield, the UW football team is looking toward an experienced and talent-laden offense to lead it in 2003.

“We have so many weapons on offense, so many weapons, and we have a lot of guys back on defense, so as a team I’m expecting us to have a great season,” sophomore running back Dwayne Smith said.

Voted to finish third in the conference by the Big Ten media, the Badgers garner the 20th and 21st rankings in the preseason coaches and Associated Press polls.

The return of star receiver Lee Evans is a big reason for the team’s high expectations, as he adds experience to a receiving core that is young, yet skillful. The senior’s leadership, which remained evident throughout two separate rehabilitations of his knee, has earned Evans the respect of everyone in the Badgers’ organization. Two years removed from a 1,500-yard receiving year, Evans will be looked at to perform in the clutch all season long.

The rest of the receiving corps consists of junior Darrin Charles, who has yet to have a breakout season, sophomore Jonathan Orr, who had a solid 2002 campaign, and true sophomore Brandon Williams, whom the coaches are looking at to be a big playmaker in 2003.

“We have a lot of weapons on offense, yet we only have one football, [so] guys may not have the same numbers,” head coach Barry Alvarez said. “They may play better than they’ve ever played but may not have as good of numbers as they’ve had in the past.”

Returning a wide receiver who caught more than 1,500 yards two seasons ago, two freshmen who caught 50 passes each last season and a running back who has rushed for more than 3,000 yards over the past two seasons, the Badgers are counting on quarterback Jim Sorgi to distribute the ball in an efficient and effective way.

Sorgi, who saw limited action last season, has started five games in his career but will be seeing extensive action as a starter for the first time.

Behind Sorgi in the backfield will be junior Anthony Davis, who became just the second Badger to rush for at least 1,000 yards in his first two seasons at Wisconsin. Alongside Davis in a new-look two-back set will be sophomore Dwayne Smith. Smith ran for 552 yards in his freshman year, which was the fourth-highest total of all time for Wisconsin freshman running backs.

“We’re stacked at tailback,” Davis said. “I think we got at least four deep, and any one of those guys can get out there and handle the position easily.”

Captains Jeff Mack, who had to overcome injury last season, and Jim Leonhard, who led the nation in interceptions, will anchor a Badger defense seeking to improve its pass coverage. New secondary coach Ron Lee brings an experienced thinker to the defensive side of the ball in an effort to stop the big play.

“Ron brings a good background of secondary coaching,” Alvarez said. “A lot of his coaching was in the west where there’s spread-out offenses … so I’m looking for his expertise and experience.”

Lee’s expertise will likely be tested in Wisconsin’s first game against the Big East’s best quarterback in West Virginia’s Rasheed Marshall. After the first game of the season, UW will conclude its non-conference year at home against Akron, UNLV and North Carolina.

The Badgers then face a difficult start to the Big Ten season as they travel to Illinois and Penn State. Oct. 11 should be a day circled on every Madison calendar, as the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes roll into town. The following weekend, the Badgers welcome Purdue to Camp Randall in a game that will either elevate the Badgers to the upper tier of the conference or have them struggling to keep their heads afloat. The November game at Minnesota and season wrapup at home against Iowa will have the Badgers focused all season as they hope to make a prominent bowl appearance.

“We only have one ball, and we can’t worry about numbers,” Alvarez said. “If we don’t have that type of attitude, then we’re going to be in trouble, but I think that everyone has to understand it’s about winning games, and it’s about winning for the university.”