Donovan: Leadership key to who will be UW quarterback
Before sharing his observations on the University of Wisconsin football instrasquad game, Tyler Donovan offered an understandable qualifier. "Spring ball is spring ball,'' said the former UW starting quarterback. "A lot of the pieces aren't there yet.''
That aside, Donovan felt both quarterbacks -- Allan Evridge and Dustin Sherer -- showed just enough to guarantee a worthy sequel to last season's training camp dual. That featured Evridge and Donovan, who got the nod a week before the opener.
"I know that coach Chryst will find a leader,'' Donovan said of the UW's wily offensive coodinator and quarterback coach Paul Chryst, who had such a big impact on Donovan's development. "We were able to relate and communicate well, on and off the field."
In determining Donovan's successor, communication could be a factor. That is, how an Evridge or a Sherer handles the huddle and communicates what needs to be done to their teammates. This also falls under the very special category of leadership.
"Allan is going to have to get the confidence of the guys, which I think he will,'' Donovan said. "Winning the guys over is truly what the quarterback position is all about. They have to believe in you. That's the leadership part.''
Between now and the start of the preseason training camp, according to Donovan, is a critical stage in building chemistry. "That's when you're going to make or break yourself,'' he said. "The summer is the most improtant time to be jelling with your receivers and the team.''
One of Evridge's former wide receivers -- Kansas State's Jordy Nelson -- will be utilizing the upcoming mini-camps and summer months to find his own niche in Green Bay. Last Saturday, the Packers dropped into the second round and made Nelson their first pick of the 2008 draft.
Evridge is familiar with Nelson's resume. During the 2005 season, Evridge started six games at K-State and threw for 1,365 yards. He had six touchdowns and seven interceptions, while completing 48 percent of his passes.
His favorite target?
Jordy Nelson, who led the Wildcats in receiving with 45 catches for 669 yards (14.9) and eight touchdowns.
Among the highlights was an 80-yard scoring strike from Evridge to Nelson against Texas Tech in what was Evridge's first start. Evridge also came off the bench to hook up with Nelson on a game-winning, fourth quarter touchdown pass against Kansas.
It remains to be seen whether Evridge can replicate that consistency with his UW receivers. Especially since a couple of big pieces to the puzzle -- Travis Beckum and Garrett Graham, who finished one-two in receiving last season -- were not available during the spring. Both were rehabbing shoulder injuries.
If nothing else, Donovan is confident that Chryst will create ways to best accent the skills of Evridge and Sherer. "I felt priviledged to be coached by him,'' Donovan said, "because of the work he puts in and how he makes a player feel throughout the process.''
By his own admission, Donovan put in a lot of work to get his UW degree. "It wasn't easy and that's why graduating is special,'' he said. "It's a good feeling of accomplishment and time management was the key; finding the time to do the work with the hours we're putting in with football.''
Last Sunday, Donovan attended Nick Hayden's draft party. Donovan and Hayden, a senior UW defensive tackle, were high school teammates at Hartland Arrowhead.
"It was nerve-wracking,'' Donovan said of waiting out each round of the draft with Hayden, who was taken in the sixth round by Carolina. "Part of me wishes that I was in it (the draft). But a bigger part of me is glad to have what I have.''
And that's a chance to prove himself all over again with the Edmonton Eskimos.
File photo
Wisconsin quarterbacks Dustin Sherer, left, and Allan Evridge chat April 19 prior to the spring game.
