There was one reason and one reason alone why Kansas City Chiefs
offensive coordinator Al Saunders was in Madison last week: Lee
Evans. One of three NFL offensive coordinators on hand, Saunders
had been impressed with Evans on film, but last Wednesday’s Pro
Timing Day at the McClain Center provided him the opportunity to
see Evans live and in the flesh for the first time.

“These kind of workouts are a confirmation of what you see on
the video,” Saunders said. “The most important thing is how the
player plays the game, and that’s why he is considered someone that
is likely to go very high in the draft — because he played the
game extremely well. What they do here is really just a
confirmation of how they move and how they catch the ball.”

“It’s an opportunity to talk to him on a one-on-one level and
talk to the people that coached him and talk to the people that
have worked with him during the course of their careers here,”
Saunders said. “Obviously we’re impressed with him and we’re
impressed with the comments that were made by the support staff he
has here at the university.”

The NFL got its first real look at Evans last month at the
Indianapolis scouting combine, where the Wisconsin standout wowed
scouts with a 40-yard-dash timed as fast as 4.30 seconds on some
stopwatches. Evans also posted a 35-inch vertical leap and a
10-foot broad jump. At Pro Day, he took part in the long and short
shuttle runs and the three-cone drill, in addition to running
routes.

“First of all, you want to see if a guy can run, and he can
definitely run,” Green Bay Packers wide receivers coach Ray Sherman
said. “He didn’t do anything at the combine but run the
40-yard-dash, so the only thing we saw was to watch him run
straight ahead. Out here, he was able to do a lot of the different
drills and change direction, and he caught the ball really
well.”

Not surprisingly, coaches and scouts like what they have seen in
Evans’ pre-draft workouts, as well as his highlights.

“We have a great deal of interest in Lee because of what he
exhibited here at the University of Wisconsin,” Saunders said. “He
has tremendous speed and he caught the ball extremely well. He’s
going to be a very high draft choice.”

What is left to be determined is just how high Evans will go.
Despite his blazing 40 times in Indianapolis and his performance in
Madison, Evans may have his work cut out for him if he hopes to be
selected in the first round.

“I think he’s definitely capable of being a first rounder,”
Evans’ agent Ben Dogra said. “I’m a little biased, but I think he
should be a first-round pick. I think when it all shakes out, when
it’s all said and done, he should be a first-round pick.”

Thanks to his recent workout numbers, Evans is climbing into
round one in the eyes of many draft prognosticators.

“Growing up thinking of being in the draft, you don’t dream to
go in the second round,” Evans said. “First round is important to
me. I really want to be in the first round, but those things are
out of my hands. All I can do is play.”

Most years, Evans would have been a first-round lock. However,
the 2004 draft class is chock full of talented wide receivers.
Draft boards featuring the likes of Pittsburgh’s Larry Fitzgerald,
USC’s Mike Williams, Texas’ Roy Williams and Washington’s Reggie
Williams could make it difficult for Evans to be selected in the
first round. Unlike Evans, who stands 5-foot-10 1/2, Fitzgerald and
the Williams contingent all stand at least 6-foot-2 1/2 and
represent the prototypical receiver in today’s NFL.

“It’s kind of weird because I’m pretty much the only guy under
six feet in the top eight or so receivers,” Evans said. “I don’t
really compare myself to them, I’m different. The top eight, I’ll
probably be the fastest one, but they’ve certainly got abilities
that I don’t have and I’ve got abilities they don’t have. I don’t
really compare myself to them. I’ll just be me and play my
game.”

When Mike Williams took advantage of the Maurice Clarett ruling
and tossed his name into the draft hat, another first-tier prospect
was added to an already impressive receiver crop, putting Evans’
first-round aspirations in jeopardy.

“Nothing I can do about it,” Evans said of Williams’ entry.
“That’s his decision. He decided to come out. Whatever happens,
happens and I’ve just got to worry about me and what I’ve got to
do.”

Evans represents the physical antithesis of the 6-foot-5 USC
phenom. While Evans utilizes speed, quickness and superb
route-running ability, Williams relies on his tight end-like size
and physicality.

“If you like Randy Moss and you like Cris Carter, they might
both get to the Hall of Fame, but they’re different types of
receivers,” Dogra said. “Williams brings the size factor, and
you’ve got Lee that’s going to just bring you the explosive nature.
Williams isn’t going to get you a 70-yard touchdown — Lee Evans
is. They’re made up of different composition. It depends what teams
want, the West Coast offense versus the Coryell offense.”

Evans’ first-round fate may ultimately depend on finding a team
whose offense fits his abilities.

“He’s one of the real quality receivers coming out in this
year’s draft,” said Lynn Stiles, Kansas City Chiefs Vice President
of Football Operations/Player Personnel. “For whatever reason, this
happens to be one of those drafts where there are a lot of wide
receivers. Now, how he stacks up in the pecking order depends on
whether you like vanilla, chocolate or strawberry. Does he fit? I
happen to like all those flavors, so if I could have any one of
those top guys, it would be great.”

The intense drive to succeed and competitive nature Wisconsin’s
career receiving leader possesses could also win over many NFL
coaches and personnel men.

“He’s one of the most competitive individuals I’ve ever met,”
Dogra said. “If you asked me one word to describe Lee Evans, it is
‘competitive.’ As good as his speed is, as good as the hands are,
as good as the touchdowns are, he’s incredibly competitive. I think
that gives him an edge over a lot of other players when he goes on
to the NFL.”

The NFL has had Evans on its radar for sometime, dating back to
his days serving as a complement to fellow Bedford, Ohio native and
Dogra client Chris Chambers.

“Lee Evans popped out at me when I was in here doing a guy by
the name of Chambers,” Stiles said. “You couldn’t help but see Lee
Evans when you were watching Chambers. You kept saying, ‘Well, who
is this guy?’ because he actually played faster than Chambers did
on tape and was one of those, what you call a ‘wow guy.'”

That was before the 2002 knee injury that put both his
collegiate and professional careers on hold. Two surgeries later,
Evans returned to reclaim his status as one of the country’s elite
wideouts.

“Everybody was kind of waiting with bated breath to see how he
was going to come out of that,” Stiles said. “Very honestly, at the
beginning of the season, even though he was good, he was not quite,
in my opinion, up to the standard he was up to previous. But I
think that as the season went on, he showed that he was back.”

A 64-catch, 1,213-yard season appears to have answered any
questions about the condition of Evans’ surgically repaired left
knee.

“He seems to change direction extremely well. Certainly he
worked very hard to come off that injury and perform at a high
level,” Saunders said. “We don’t have any concerns (about his
knee). I don’t think the medical people do. That was the No. 1
thing that the medical people examined at the combine: the
strength, rehabilitation and the success of his knee. It’s my
understanding that he’s just fine.”

After proving himself to the scouts all over again, Evans will
now look to position himself at the head of the 2004 wide receiver
draft class.

“I know where I like him, I can’t speak for everybody else,”
Sherman said. “I think he’s a tremendous talent and I think that
wherever he goes, he’s going to do a heck of a job because he’s a
guy that’s a playmaker and he comes from a great program and great
coaching. I think he’s a guy that wherever he goes, he’s going to
do an outstanding job.”

All that is left for Evans is to continue his pre-draft work and
wait to hear his name called on April 24.

“I have no idea where I’m going,” Evans said. “It’s a lot of
speculation. Everybody has something to say, but on draft day,
that’s when it’s going to boil down and we’ll find out where I go.
I certainly have high expectations for myself, but the draft is
plenty. My mindset is whoever picks me up, they’re going to get a
competitor and I’m going to come in and work.”