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Every year during fall camp someone surprises and earns themselves a spot in the rotation or a starting spot across college football. The same holds true for your Wisconsin Badgers, and as the team moves from shorts and jerseys in to padded practices things kick up a notch.
It also means it is much easier to figure out what is really happening across the roster.
After three practices and UW finally getting in to half-pads on Wednesday it is clear that this youthful roster may be providing a lot of surprises as camp rolls on and the season continues to near.
Here’s a look at a few of the names who have stood out and surprised coming out of the first somewhat padded practice of the season.
Quintez Cephus, WR
All eyes are on a wide receiver position that has been in flux for the past few years. Much was expected from potential starters Robert Wheelwright and Jazz Peavy, and 4-star athlete A.J. Taylor stole most of the headlines at wide receiver in the class of 2016.
However, Cephus took advantage of his increased reps over the first three days of practice and was a standout after Wheelwright exited practice with cramping in his legs. In fact, reports from Wednesday’s practice indicate the young wide receiver was getting reps with the first and second team.
No Rob Wheelright today. Quintez Cephus took advantage. Freshman hauled in two deep balls. #Badgers
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) August 10, 2016
First day in half pads was a good one for true freshman Quintez Cephus, who made a pair of nice fingertip catches in team drills
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) August 10, 2016
Quintez Cephus is feisty. The WR was blocking a little too long after the whistle for Derrick Tindal's liking. Some pushing & shoving ensued
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) August 10, 2016
With plenty of depth issues at wide receiver, finding a dependable option or two from the youngsters is a great sign. Cephus appears to be a name to keep watching as camp rolls along and may end up seeing the field sooner than anyone really thought would happen.
Taiwan Deal, RB
While the name is a known quantity to plenty of Badgers fans out there, what has become surprising is what is standing out about his game entering his redshirt sophomore season. Those in attendance are noticing Deal becoming much more shifty in the open field and becoming a go-to player in the passing game out of the backfield.
It is that latter bit of news that should be surprising, as Deal wasn’t exactly a big pass catcher in his freshman season. To be exact, Deal had just one reception for four yards all of last season.
Most of the attention has been on developing the rushing side of the game, but if one of the backs vying for the spot directly behind Corey Clement can showcase the ability to be a consistent weapon in the passing game it would be easy to see that as a major advantage in the battle.
Combine that with a player with a lot more going for him than just being a bowling ball running back in the open field and it could be enough to make the coaching staff have to put him in the game as the second option in the rushing game.
David Edwards, RT
Yes, you are reading that correctly…David Edwards is now a right tackle for the Wisconsin Badgers after coming in as a tight end in the 2015 recruiting class. Many believed he would be a great understudy at the more blocking orientated tight end position after coming in to spring practice at 260 pounds.
Instead, Edwards has continued to put the weight on and came in to camp at over 290 pounds. That led the coaching staff to make a move to the offensive line for him. While that may not be crazy or surprising in and of itself, what is surprising is how quickly he has taken to his new position.
RT David Edwards has put on 50 pounds since last year. Now at 290. Wants to be at 300 by end of camp. Likely to settle in at 315/320.
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) August 10, 2016
With Jacob Maxwell still taking some time off here and there to manage an injury sustained in spring practice, Edwards has slotted in at right tackle right behind him. His athletic ability and knowledge of the blocking schemes certainly have helped him shoot up the depth chart, but he wouldn’t have been in position to do that without the coaching staff noticing something in him as a pure blocker as well.
If there was one question mark on the depth chart along the offensive line, it may have been who exactly would be the understudy to Maxwell. Should Edwards continue to progress the Badgers should have the answer to that question in short order.
The post Early surprises from Badgers football fall camp appeared first on Madtown Badgers.
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