UW’s Davis ready after precautionary rest
MADISON – Barring any setbacks this week in practice, senior wide receiver Danny Davis expects to be in the Wisconsin lineup Saturday against Penn State.
Davis hasn’t played since the second game of last season, when he suffered a concussion in UW’s 49-11 victory at Michigan.
He was held out of several practices open to reporters during preseason camp, beginning August 20. That came one day after he informed the staff he was battling a headache in the wake of a hit during the Aug. 18 practice.
“I’m feeling a lot better now,” Davis said Monday.
“I took about a week and a half off just to let everything rest and get my mind and body back to where I needed to be. Right now I feel great.
“I feel 100%. I feel normal. I’ve been practicing the last couple days.”
Davis participated fully in the team’s Aug. 18 practice and showed no signs of injury. Davis was bothered by a headache the next day, which was a regularly scheduled day off for the players.
“It wasn’t too bad,” Davis said, “but after what I suffered last year I was being more cautious.
“I wanted to be smart so I am here for the season and don’t have to deal with that again.”
Davis played in only two games last season, against Illinois and at Michigan. He finished the season with three catches for 78 yards and a touchdown and eight carries for 69 yards and a touchdown.
He has started 15 games and played in 39 at UW. He has 99 catches for 1,164 yards and 12 touchdowns in those games.
Davis insists he isn’t entering the 2021 season worried about potential injuries, including a concussion.
“I said this before fall camp,” he said. “I don’t think about those things when I am out there. That is all you can do.
“If you sit there and worry about injuries or making mistakes, that is when you don’t play fast.”
Beach healthy, ready to start
Senior Tyler Beach, who missed all of camp while recovering from a left leg injury, has returned to practice and is set to start at left tackle in the opener.
“During some of the full-pad work I didn’t really notice it, which was really cool,” Beach said Monday.
“But there were some things … it felt tight when I tried to run or cut or turn on it. But I get a lot of treatment and rehab after practice, get a good night’s sleep and it usually feels pretty good the next day.”
Personnel musings
Tailback Chez Mellusi, who transferred to UW from Clemson, is expected to start the opener. However, don’t be surprised to see new running backs coach Gary Brown also use Jalen Berger, Isaac Guerendo and freshman Braelon Allen.
“He’s been really consistent,” UW coach Paul Chryst said of Mellusi. “That I think means a lot. As you know, and you could easily guess, we’ve got to have a number of backs play and play well.
“As we went into camp there were a lot of questions at that position but I think each one of them has taken positive strides.”
Collin Larsh is set to handle field goals and extra points. Jack Van Dyke, who missed time because of a right leg injury, is set to again handle kickoffs.
Dean Engram is listed on the depth chart as the No. 1 punt returner, ahead of Jack Dunn. However, look for UW to use two return men against teams that feature rugby-style punters who can spray the ball all over the field.
Extra points
Allen, who excelled on defense and at tailback at Fond du Lac High School, has signed an endorsement deal with Iron Joc Performance Gear. …
Brad Grabow, a native of Elkhorn who lettered at linebacker at UW in 1982, ’83 and ’84, died last week. He was 58. Grabow graduated from UW in 1985 with a degree in physical education.