[media-credit name=’GREG SCHMITZ/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]Some football players wait years for their chance to come in and make a difference. For some, the process is gradual, but for others, like Badgers freshman wide receiver Kyle Jefferson, it can be both abrupt and surprising.

"For me, I have to look at it like I'm the next man in," the 6'5" Ohio native said.

Being "the next man in" in his situation, however, is a little different than a normal drill or substitution.

When senior wide out Paul Hubbard, one of the last year's most important gameday performers, went down in the second half of the UNLV game Saturday, Jefferson was tapped to come in and fill the hole left by the starter.

Hubbard tied for the team lead last season in touchdown receptions (5) and finished second in catches (38) and yards per catch (16.5). His exceptional play in the Capital One Bowl versus Arkansas was one of the biggest reasons the Badgers came home from Orlando with a win.

Sensing the difficulty of the situation the freshman has been placed in, Hubbard has made sure that Jefferson knows that he and the rest of the offense are behind him.

"[Hubbard] told me that I need to just stay focused, take things one at a time, breathe some deep breaths, and when you get your opportunity in the game, just run fast, and if you can make a play, make the play," Jefferson said.

Hubbard's reassurances were echoed in the huddle as well.

"When [Jefferson] came in, everybody looked at him and said, 'Alright, we're going to help you out; you can do this,'" senior receiver Luke Swan said. "Kyle has worked really hard so far this year. He's got good ball skills and can run real well, so I think he has a really good possibility to come in and have a lot of success for us."

As if he didn't have enough support behind him here at Wisconsin, Jefferson has also been in contact with former Ohio State Buckeye standout Ted Ginn Jr. since he arrived on campus. Jefferson and Ginn, now a member of the Miami Dolphins, played together at Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio.

"(Ginn) was like a big brother to me," Jefferson said. "Playing with him and seeing where he is now and knowing that I came from where he did has helped me out a lot as a player."

Although Jefferson hasn't talked to Ginn since his ascension to the top of the Badger depth chart, the receiver plans on calling him soon, if only just for "ten minutes of advice" from the longtime friend, who has often told him that the most important thing a player can do is to "go out and perform to your best ability, no matter what."

Lucky for UW coach DelVaughn Alexander and the Badgers, Jefferson has been blessed with plenty of physical abilities that will allow him to do just that.

"Kyle got here even before I did this summer doing workouts. When he came back for the start of camp, he was very focused and confident about the things that he could bring to the table as a receiver," Alexander said.

With his tremendous height and sprinter speed, Jefferson needs only game experience to transform himself into the downfield threat he has the potential to be.

In terms of his arrival to the top of the wide receiver pecking order, it couldn't have come at a better time on the schedule. With major conference foes such as Ohio State and Michigan looming in the last three weeks of the season, the offense will not only have time to work with and further develop the wide receiver, but also wait for the return of Hubbard, who has been pegged to miss anywhere from six to eight weeks of the season.

Giving Jefferson his chance to develop certainly is the silver lining in the whole Hubbard situation in the eyes of Alexander.

"For right now, Kyle needs to approach Citadel on this weekend like it is a Michigan or an Ohio State. … We want his best game to come Saturday," Alexander said.

"But if his best game doesn't come on then, whether it be because of less production or too many mistakes, we want to have the same person that he always is — the person that, week in and week out, is going to grow more as a player every day he goes out on the field."

If all goes well on Saturday, who knows? Maybe Ten Ginn Jr. will be the one calling Jefferson for ten minutes of advice next week.