Evans to stay at UW

Lee Evans, the Badgers’ senior wide receiver who missed the 2002 season due to a knee injury sustained last spring, announced that he will return to Wisconsin for the 2003 season instead of entering the 2003 NFL Draft. Evans made his announcement at a press conference at San Antonio’s Marriott Riverwalk Hotel. The following is the university's release.

“I’ve learned patience through his whole situation,” said Evans, who next season will join Jonathan Orr, Brandon Williams and Darrin Charles (among others) to give the UW a strong corps of receivers.

Evans set the Big Ten record with 1,545 receiving yards on a school-record 75 catches as a junior in 2001. He caught a school record-tying nine touchdown passes and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver, as well as a first-team All-American.

TFY Analysis: Terrific choice for Evans, who would've slid out of the top 45 picks had he entered the draft, maybe even the top two rounds.  With his injury and those of Bernard Berrian and Kelly Washington, coupled with the choice of Roy Williams to seemingly stay in school, what once seemed like a strong crop of receivers available next April has seen a dramatic fall off in talent.