Davis, Pryor should help passing game take flight
MADISON - On Tuesday, Chimere Dike rose up between cornerback Caesar Williams and safety Scott Nelson to make a difficult sideline catch for a gain of about 40 yards.
On Wednesday, Kendric Pryor ran away from cornerback Dean Engram in a one-on-one drill and hauled in a deep throw.
Not long after that during team drills, Danny Davis worked away from his defender across the field and hauled in a pass for another long gain.
The battle for the bigger grin so far in camp — that of Wisconsin wide receivers coach Alvis Whitted or quarterback Graham Mertz — is tied.
Seniors Pryor and Davis, who were limited to a combined five games last season because of concussions, are healthy and have been making plays throughout camp.
“Excited for those guys,” said Whitted, entering his second season at UW. “This is their last opportunity as a group to come out there and showcase what they can do. My hope for them is to put everything out there. There are no limits.”
Dike, who recorded 12 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown as a freshman last season, appears more confident in his ability.
Add dependable senior Jack Dunn along with Devin Chandler and A.J. Abbott and UW could be six deep at wide receiver early in the season.
“I feel that I have a better idea who each kid is and what they can bring to the table,” Whitted said, “their strengths and weaknesses and skill set and how it all applies and fits into what we’re trying to do.
“Every one of those guys has a unique skill set.”
UW’s passing game foundered with Davis and Pryor sidelined for most of last season. Mertz finished with 1,238 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions and UW averaged just 181.0 passing yards per game.
Mertz sounded more confident Wednesday when asked if the passing game will be more efficient this season.
“The cool thing about it is that we have so much depth,” he said, “and the cooler thing is the older guys are teaching the younger guys…It is going to be awesome to know you’ve got guys out there who can go play and you can trust.”
Personnel musings
Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal remain entrenched as the No. 1 inside linebacker pairing. The No. 2 duo features Tatum Grass, who earned that spot with a solid spring, and Mike Maskalunas. Maskalunas missed time in the spring because of injury, and that allowed Maema Njongmeta to get plenty of work with the No. 2 unit. However, inside linebackers coach Bob Bostad has had Maskalunas working with the No. 2 unit in camp.
It is uncertain when the staff will decide on the team’s No. 1 kicker but so far in camp Jack Van Dyke has been on the No. 1 unit and Collin Larsh has been on the No. 2 unit.
UW worked briefly on punt returns Wednesday, and the three return men were Engram, Dunn and Davis.
From the infirmary
Senior Tyler Beach, the projected No. 1 left tackle, remains out with a left leg injury. That has allowed redshirt sophomore Logan Brown to get valuable work with the top unit.
Safety Travian Blaylock, who has drawn raves from defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, was limited Wednesday because of a left leg injury.
Aaron Witt, a promising sophomore outside linebacker, remains out because of a right leg injury.
Freshman cornerback Al Ashford appears to be out indefinitely. Ashford suffered a left arm injury Tuesday and that arm was in a sling Wednesday.
Allen flashes his potential
How quickly freshman Braelon Allen adapts to the tailback position and how much he can contribute this season is to be determined.
However, the 6-2, 238-pounder from Fond du Lac flashed his playmaking ability Wednesday.
Allen took a handoff and started to his left. He bounced off a would-be tackler near the line of scrimmage, shook off reserve cornerback Amaun Williams with a nasty stiff-arm and raced down the sideline for a big gain as his teammates on offense howled.
Just one play but it showed why the staff decided to start Allen at tailback rather than at inside linebacker.