Danny Davis and Kendrick Pryor are back for Wisconsin Badgers

20200517_134556by:Justin Rudolph•08/11/21

The University of Wisconsin is getting back two of its key threats on the outside for this upcoming season. After missing substantial time last season, Wide receivers Danny Davis and Kendrick Pryor are back on the field looking healthy and ready to go, per reports.

Davis and Pryor appeared in a combined five games in the COVID shortened season for the Badgers. Davis played in just two games last year, while Pryor only played in one additional game. Both were limited last year due to concussions.

Wisconsin without the duo

Wisconsin’s offense ultimately sputtered with Pryor and Davis missing so much time. Last year was then-sophomore quarterback Graham Mertz’s first time starting for the Badgers. Without his two wideouts, he completed just 61.1% of his passes, had nine touchdowns and five interceptions. Mertz averaged 184.7 yards passing per game and the team finished with a 4-3 record. Wisconsin is not a school known for its aerial attack. However, in 2019 Davis helped space the field with 30 catches good for 250 yards and a touchdown. While Pryor added 23 catches for 278 yards.

Wisconsin’s wide receiver coach Alvis Whitted is excited about the upcoming season. With both Davis and Pryor coming back for their senior season, the Badgers believe they have great depth at the wide receiver position.

“Excited for those guys,” Whitted said via the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “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.”

With those two out for the majority of the season, it allowed for true freshman receiver Chimere Dike to showcase his skills. Dike finished this season with 189 yards and a touchdown on 12 catches. Rounding out the Badgers pass catchers are A.J Abbott, Devin Chandler, and fellow senior Jack Dunn. barring any unforeseen complications the Badgers will have six capable downfield targets.

Mertz certainly is a fan of their new depth 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.”

Back to form

The Badgers are looking to get back to their winning ways this season and challenge for the Big Ten crown.

Under head coach Paul Chryst the Badgers have been in the Big Ten title picture almost every year. In 2017, he led them to a near-perfect record of 13-1. Their only loss of the season came in the Big Ten championship game against rival Ohio State. That loss would ultimately knock them out of the national championship picture. However, they did finish this season on a high note with a win against the University of Miami in the Orange Bowl. Chryst is a coach who likes to rely on his running game, but with as many receiving threats as he will have this year, look for him to call on Pryor and Davis more often this season.

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)