Lee Evans ...Wisconsin's best WR out 5 games

[daboyz#22]

sorry didnt know how to just post the link so i copied and pasted....if anyone can tell me how to just put the link up it would be greatly appreciatted..thanks

Evans plans to return by Big Ten opener

Posted: Wednesday July 10, 2002 12:04 PM
Updated: Wednesday July 10, 2002 5:23 PM



MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Lee Evans, the Big Ten's leading receiver last year, will likely miss the first five games of Wisconsin's season while trying to rehabilitate a knee he injured in spring practice.

Evans said Wednesday he was happy with his progress after tearing ligaments in his left knee in April and would love to be back by the Aug. 23 season opener against Fresno State in the John Thompson Foundation Football Classic.

But he said a more realistic goal is the Badgers' first Big Ten game Oct. 5 against Penn State, meaning he would miss almost half of the regular season.

Even being ready for that game would mean returning to football less than five months after having surgery in May for an injury that often takes six to eight months of rehabilitation.

"I have a competitive attitude that if someone can do it, then I should be able to do it, too," he said.

Evans said he has been working six hours a day, doing exercises to bring back his strength and flexibility. Evans said he has begun jogging, but does not have a full range of motion yet.

"I can do pretty much everything except run a full sprint," he said.

The injury came just three months after Evans said he would stay at Wisconsin for his senior season rather than turning pro.

He was one of three finalists for the national Biletnikoff Award for receivers after catching 75 passes for 1,545 yards and nine touchdowns last season. The 1,545 yards receiving set a conference record.

Evans led the Big Ten and was ranked No. 4 nationally with 128.8 yards per game. He was a first-team all-Big Ten selection and a second-team selection to The Associated Press All-America team.

Evans said he has not thought about sitting out this season if his rehabilitation does not progress as he hopes, nor has he considered what his injury means for a possible future in the NFL.

"I'll start thinking about the draft later on. Right now I need to get back on the field," he said.

Evans said doctors took one-third of the patella tendon in his right knee to help repair the ACL in his left knee. He said he has had to rehabilitate both knees but hasn't had any problems with his right knee.

Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said doctors will play a role in determining when Evans is physically ready to play, including monitoring how much strength has returned to the injured knee. But ultimately it is Evans' decision to determine when he's ready -- physically and mentally -- to suit up again.

"When he's ready to go he'll be on the field, and we'll feature him," Alvarez said.

 

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Saw that. I still think their offense will perform well vs Fresno St. Al Johnson and Ben Johnson both pondered the NFL, before returning. Offensive line is back in tact and should be real good. Anthony Davis is real quick. Two functional QBs. Name to remember: WR Darren Charles. Rangy, good hands, looked sharp in the spring gm, looks like a comer.

 

[Valuist]

Wisky will score a lot. But they also will give up a lot. I'm guessing the total against UNLV will be very high. If its under 60, I'd go over.

 

[ChuckyTheGoat]

No doubt, Valuist. I posted in a diff thread about Wisky's sieve defense. 28 PPG allowed last yr, and now they lose all their key defensive players from last yr (Bryant, Echols, Boese, Griesen, etc). Their defense literally looks naked. Hard to find a name guy out of the whole lot, maybe Jeff Mack. The secondary got scorched last yr.

I am leaning to Wisky in Gm1, though. Fresno has to replace Carr and their top 2 RBs. Not too bad a first gm for Wisky's green defense to break in. I see Fresno's Off vs Wisky's Def about a wash in that gm. Big Ten still has the class edge here imo.

 

[Valuist]

Chucky--

Got some interesting info on that matchup from Phil Steele's pre-season mag. He gives every team an "experience rating" based on the returning # of srs, jrs, soph, etc in the 2-deep. He ranks UNLV 2nd best out of 117 while Wisky comes in at 110. Add in the fact it should be ridiculously hot, and I wonder if Wisky is ripe to get upset.

 

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Valuist:

I'll have to check out that Steele info you mentioned. I'm a little surprised Wisky's experience comes in quite that low. They do have pretty good experience on offense. The offensive line played virtually the entire 2001 season together. And the two QBs have good gm experience. NOTE: Bickerstaff, who had earned the starting FB job, was ruled ineligible for the yr.

Wisky is the team I follow closest. Already looking at the early schedule. Leaning to Wisky vs Fresno, depending upon the #. But I'm anticipating about -7. Just see the situational factor of Fresno coming east again w/o Carr on turf being the difference. Wisky should be focused off a down yr for some payback here.

Already have UNLV circled as a possible play vs Wisky. They'll be rested, and they're preparing for Wisky as we speak. Plenty distractions for Wisky travelling to Sin City. I expect that Wisky defense to be especially vulnerable on the road.

 

[Goiing Gone]

Wis D-Line though younger is actually expected to fare much better in contributing to the performance of the overall defense..
The reason for this is the Size upgrade from last yrs squad::Expected to stuff the run better and the ends are close to 300lbs with what has been reported to be Explosive Quickness::which if true will improve pass rush that was lacking last yr in turn helping the secondary which does have some talent, just need to Gel..

They will Crush UNLV with a Back to the Old days of Time consuming Smash mouth football thus keeping the D on the field less min per Gm...

Wis -5 is gift