CONTENTS APRIL 23, 2015 ■ VOLUME 5, ISSUE 35 JOHN FISHER / CAL SPORT MEDIA JOHN FISHER / CAL SPORT COVER STORY MEN IN THE MIDDLE Once again, inside linebacker was a major question mark for the Badgers entering spring practice. Has Wisconsin found its answers in Leon Jacobs and T.J. Edwards? FEATURES DEFENSE IN [FOCUS] TAKING THEIR TIME The week's best photos LUCAS AT LARGE BRIAN MASON With a staff that’s nearly entirely McEvoy now multi-faceted new, Wisconsin’s defensive coaches are putting in the time to put the BY THE NUMBERS best possible team on the field. Facts and figures on UW WHAT TO WATCH Softball and Stanley Cup ASK THE BADGERS LUCAS AT LARGE Teammates’ hidden talents BADGERING MULTIPLE McEVOY Charlie Foss (Men’s Track) Coaches say he as the skillset to BRIAN MASON INSIDE VOLLEYBALL contribute on both sides of the Strange spring for Badgers ball for UW, and that’s exactly INSIDE SOFTBALL what Tanner McEvoy plans to do. Jenkins makes quick impact INSIDE-SCROLL TRACK FOR & MORE­ FIELD Divide and conquer is plan Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711 VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications Julia Hujet Editor/Designer Brian Mason Managing Editor Mike Lucas Senior Writer Matt Lepay Columnist Drew Scharenbroch Video Production Amy Eager Advertising Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, Pam Ruschell, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photo: David Stluka Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2015 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS » UWBADGERS.COM McEvoy multiplies impact on Badgers isconsin secondary offense and defense. “He should also be able to do coach Daronte Jones UW athletic director Barry some things at receiver with Wwas introduced to Alvarez knows a thing or two that height, speed and athleti­ multi-taskers at the University about McEvoy. “You want Tan­ cism.” of Hawaii, where Scott Harding ner on your team,” he said. Jones’ scouting report on McE­ was a second-team All-Ameri­ “You just have to figure out voy, the receiver, followed along can punter, a punt returner and how to use him and best maxi­ the same lines. a slot receiver who started five mize his ability. I really thought “He’s tall, he’s rangy and he games and caught 34 passes for he played well at safety in the has length,” he said. “On de­ 457 yards and three touchdowns bowl. He was the last line of fense, he covers a lot of ground last season. Harding was the defense and made some good in the middle of the field. He exception to most rules; he was solid stops. may be a step away but his 28 years old and a veteran of reach is so long he may still get Australian rules football. a hand on the ball. Same on “He had a very unique skill “I’M GROWING ON AND OFF offense; his body and frame cre­ set,” Jones declared. THE FIELD. THAT HAPPENS ates issues. This spring, Jones has been WITH ANYONE IN THIS TIME “Anyone who’s that big and introduced to Tanner McEvoy, a PERIOD OF THEIR LIFE. has that type of athleticism rare breed, a throwback to the BUT I THINK I’VE FACED A gives you issues.” one-platoon system, a two-way LOT AND I’VE HANDLED IT McEvoy didn’t have any (is­ player, full-time safety and part- PRETTY WELL.” sues) catching passes his first time wide receiver ― for now. two seasons at Bergen Catho­ Oh, yes, he has a very unique lic in Oradell, New Jersey. As a skill set, too. Last year, he start­ junior, he had 35 catches for 550 ed the first five games at quar­ yards and three scores. He also terback. “It is unique and pretty had 49 tackles and three inter­ uncommon,” McEvoy said of his ceptions at safety. Most recruit­ flexibility. “But it’s a lot of fun if ers were projecting him for wide you can get away with it.” receiver or tight end. That was Georgia’s Champ Bailey, Mich­ before he switched to quarter­ igan’s Charles Woodson, Utah back as a senior, a move result­ Eric Weddle and Holy Cross’s ing in a scholarship to South Gordie Lockbaum achieved Carolina. notoriety for their stellar play Reflecting on his prep experi­ on both sides of the ball. Wood­ ence as a receiver, McEvoy said, son’s versatility contributed to “I enjoyed that position a lot; we his Heisman Trophy. excelled at it and I did a pretty Of more recent vintage, Stan­ good job at it, too. We only had ford’s Owen Marecic, Washing­ a few routes and we threw a lot ton’s Shaq Thompson, USC’s of fades in high school; that’s Adoree Jackson and UCLA’s what we did on the goal line. Myles Jack have split time on It’s starting to come back to me. ICON SPORTSWIRE ICON -PAGE 1 OF 2­ LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS » UWBADGERS.COM I just have to keep working on and what the quarterback is it. I can ask any of the receivers “YOU WANT TANNER ON looking at,” he said. “I’m watch­ here what the play is about and YOUR TEAM,” ALVAREZ SAID. ing the quarterback’s steps and they’ll help me out.” “YOU JUST HAVE TO FIGURE before he gets the ball out, I’m Wisconsin’s leading receiver, trying to think about what his OUT HOW TO USE HIM AND Alex Erickson, has been partic­ progression would be if I was in ularly helpful to McEvoy. “He’ll BEST MAXIMIZE HIS ABILITY.” his shoes and what I would do.” watch me for the little things McEvoy has already crammed when I’m running routes ― if lot from each year I’ve played a lot into his two UW seasons. “It my hands are moving, how I’m (safety) and I’m getting more has been an interesting journey, coming out of breaks, if I’m and more comfortable with but I wouldn’t have changed it,” getting my head around ― all where I’m at,” acknowledged he confided. “I’ve faced a lot of little receiver tips,” said McEv­ the 6-foot-6, 222-pound fifth- adversity; every year something oy, who’s also trying to process year senior. “I’m more of a cen­ different. So I’m growing on and “what the play is and what terfielder. I’m trying to get in­ off the field. That happens with route to run” on the fly this terceptions and break up balls; anyone in this time period of spring. kind of a quarterback in the their life. But I think I’ve faced “I’ve got a lot to learn,” he con­ secondary.” a lot and I’ve handled it pretty ceded. Some of his instincts are a by­ well. On defense, by contrast, the product of his training as a QB. “I just have to keep handling 22-year-old McEvoy appears to “I look at things differently; it.” be coming of age; he’s starting the alignment of people, what Whether that now takes the to figure it out. “I’ve learned a they (receivers) are looking at form of a catch or a pick. ■ BRIAN MASON -PAGE 2 OF 2­ BEHIND THE DESK BY BARRY ALVAREZ » UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Spring game gives fans good taste of fall f you have young kids, Satur­ when you’ve got more eyes on 10 games that season. day’s spring game is a good them. I know Rudy (offensive Joel Stave has played a lot Iway to expose them to Wis­ coordinator Joe Rudolph) is a of football for us and you have consin football by coming out good coach and Josh Oglesby enough film on him to know to Camp Randall Stadium. It’s a and Billy Nagy will do a nice job what he can do at quarterback. cheap entertainment option for with him. So you spent time on the things all of our fans. With five players taking reps at that he needs to work on. There are different ways to one time, they can give instant You put him in a tough posi­ look at the game. If you want feedback and positive or neg­ tion and you try to get him bet­ the offense to look good, you ative reinforcement. They can ter. That may not look good to just sit in one defense and limit correct immediately. That’s just somebody sitting in the stands, what they can do and then run coaching; the more eyes, the but they don’t know what you’re your best plays against it. better. trying to get done with him. You can do other things, and Some of Paul’s practices have This will be the fifth straight it’s really up to Paul Chryst on gone long and the young guys spring that all of the proceeds what he wants to emphasize or have to learn how to concentrate from ticket sales will go to a accomplish. I’d like to see a few over a longer period. He’s just campus partner. It’s a way to young players step up and make trying to train them and teach show our appreciation. This plays.