Badgers building a tradition

by Peter Adelman

Five wide-receiver sets, deep posts and 99-yard touchdown passes are not normally synonymous with Wisconsin Badger football. While the run-first philosophy continues at UW, Barry Alvarez and wide-receivers coach Henry Mason are starting to build another tradition. Though not known for their talented receivers in the past, the reputation is beginning to change, as the Badgers possess one of the best wide-receiving corps in the nation.

“A lot of things we do here translate well at the next level,” Mason said.

Because of this focus on developing more balanced players, Wisconsin has sent numerous receivers onto the NFL, most notably Al Toon, Donald Hayes and Tony Simmons. These players showed that despite being in a more conservative offense, they could still attract the attention of pro scouts.

Current Miami Dolphin and Badger alum Chris Chambers showed that even with the offense focused on Ron Dayne, he could put up impressive numbers. He was the Badgers’ MVP in 2000 and left Madison with 127 receptions, 2,004 yards and 16 touchdowns. Despite being drafted in the second round of the 2001 draft, he had 48 receptions and seven touchdowns his rookie year, the best numbers of any receiver from that draft. Last year he was the Dolphins’ leading receiver.

All-American Lee Evans, who attended the same high school as Chambers in Bedford, Ohio, knew the offense here would not be an open, shotgun style, but Wisconsin was still his top choice.

“Coming in, you know you’re going to block, but when the ball comes your way you got to make plays,” Evans said. “Having Chris as a comfort barrier and someone to talk to made it an easier transition for me.”

He saw what Chambers had accomplished here and knew he would have the opportunity to come in and make plays right away. Evans certainly has. He is Wisconsin’s career receiving leader and holds the Big Ten record for receiving yards in a season, a record he broke his junior year compiling the best stats a receiver has ever had at the University of Wisconsin with 1,545 yards, 75 catches and nine touchdowns. Evans says that Chambers told him to lead by example and be a playmaker.

Wide receivers coach Henry Mason doesn’t see the offense as a problem for recruiting top-level receivers. He believes Madison is very attractive because of the accomplishments Badger receivers have made.

“Players know if you have the talent, we will get you the ball,” Mason said, “It’s not the number of balls you catch, but what you do with it.”

Because of the success Chambers and Evans have had, Wisconsin has been able to recruit some top high school receivers from around the country. Sophomores Jonathan Orr from Detroit, Mich., and Brandon Williams from St. Louis, Mo., were two freshman receivers that stepped up last year in Evans’ absence and were both voted second-team freshman All-Americans by Sporting News. Williams and Orr both set Badger freshman records, Orr with 842 receiving yards in a season and Williams with 52 receptions in a season. Williams was attracted to Wisconsin because of what he saw Chambers and Evans do. He was also enticed by the chance to play as a freshman. Williams said he has learned a great deal from Evans.

“(Lee taught me) patience; you got to let the game come to you,” Williams said.

Patience is definitely something a receiver needs to have when an offense runs 63 times and only attempts 13 passes, as it did last week against Illinois.

The wide receivers at Madison past and present realize that this is a hard-nosed football team with a run-first offense, but that doesn’t bother them.

“If that means throwing 15 blocks instead of 15 catches,” Mason said, “they are fine doing it.”

From Chris Chambers to Lee Evans to Jonathan Orr, Brandon Williams and Darrin Charles, Wisconsin is starting to make a name for itself for producing some pro-level wide receivers. With young receivers waiting in the wings, Wisconsin’s wide-receiving tradition does not seem to be going away anytime soon. Evans feels that besides the guys that have already contributed, including Brandon White, Brandon Tobias and Jonte Flowers will step up and carry on the legacy of great receivers that have played at Camp Randall.

Do not think that the two tight ends, I forms and half-back leads are going away any time soon, though. Despite the talent of the receivers at Wisconsin, Evans does not think it will lead to an overhauled playbook.

“As long as Coach Alvarez is here, the offense will start with the running game and continue to be physical,” he said.