The 2008 Wisconsin football team has done everything besides live up to expectations this season. The team currently sports a 4-5 record and has only one win in six Big Ten games.
However, one bright spot has shined through the darkness of UW's poor play. The growth of the young wide receiving corp., mainly freshman Nick Toon, has put Wisconsin in position for a stellar group of wideouts for the upcoming seasons.
The more I get to play the more I grow,"" Toon said. ""Obviously the more reps I can get the better, the more I'm out on the field and can learn the more comfortable I am.""
Heading into the season opener against Akron, sophomore wideouts David Gilreath and Maurice Moore were considered the top two flankers on Wisconsin's depth chart, with Kyle Jefferson playing a pivotal role as the team's slot receiver. But with injuries to both Moore and Jefferson, the team looked to Gilreath to carry most of the load. Throw in the hamstring injury to senior tight end Travis Beckum, the team's leading receiver last season, and the Wisconsin passing game was lacking in both experience and leadership.
But as the weeks pass by, Toon has stepped into that role and helped fill the void left by Moore and Jefferson. Against Michigan State, Toon had a career-high three catches for 44 yards. While his six catches for 105 yards this season may not jump off the page, Toon's growth and ability to make plays - including a 26-yard catch late in the first half which that led to a UW field goal - have gotten the attention of many.
""He is continuing to grow, right now that is his biggest thing is to keep growing, to keep carrying over some kind of consistency and learn,"" UW wide receiving coach Alexander DelVaughn said. ""Nick is definitely doing his part, and is having some success.""
Highly recruited out of Middleton High School, Toon was ranked as the third-best player in all of Wisconsin when he chose UW-Madison. Toon had 51 receptions for 799 yards in his senior season at Middleton, along with 17 returns for 430 yards. Overall, Toon had 13 touchdowns and two interceptions in his senior campaign.
Coming to Madison proved to be quite the change for Toon, as he was redshirted his first year at UW. His teammates say the year off has allowed Toon to contribute this season.
""He was really focused in the spring and looked really good,"" sophomore wide receiver David Gilreath said. ""He gained like 30 pounds. in the offseason but he's lost it easily. He looked really good in the fall, and it is paying off now.""
That year of preparation has paid off for Toon, who almost broke the starting lineup last weekend against Michigan State. Slowly but surely, Toon has worked his way up the depth chart, and the playing time he has received this season has not only allowed him to grow, but increase his confidence as well.
""It's a huge confidence boost. The more reps I can get the more confidence and comfortable I get out on the field,"" said Toon. ""Another thing that helps is the more that you play, the more the game kind of slows down and you see things that you wouldn't necessarily see if you are a younger player, so that is a big help too.""
Years past have seen Wisconsin boast a one-two-punch at wide receiver, with a possession player opposite a big-play threat. Toon is hopeful that he can step into that role as the possession receiver, teaming up with Gilreath who has been Wisconsin's only big-play threat at receiver this season.
""That's what I feel my role is. David is more of a speed guy, a niche receiver,"" Toon said. ""He does certain things great but his size limits him in some aspects. Both of us have our pluses and minuses, and I think possession is one of my big pluses, so hopefully I can fulfill that role.""
It may be too late for Wisconsin to resurrect the 2008 season, but at least at wide receiver, the future is bright.
