While rookie Badgers in the NFL begin their journeys around the league, former Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus has continued to impress his new coaches in Detroit.
After being selected No. 166 overall in the fifth round, the former Badger has immediately taken it to his new teammate, the Lions first overall pick and former Ohio State star Jeff Okudah, in practice. The two went at in multiple Big Ten battles between Ohio State and Wisconsin, and Cephus has gotten the better of the Buckeye star early.
Jeff Okudah lost both of his one-on-one reps against rookie WR Quintez Cephus. Slipped to the ground on one of the reps too, like he did yesterday against Kenny Golladay.
— kyle meinke (@kmeinke) August 18, 2020
More praise for Cephus came today from Lions coach Matt Patricia in an article by Lions beat writer Nick Baumgardner in The Athletic.
“He’s really caught on to everything we’re doing,” Patricia told reporters on Sunday morning. “I think the guys on defense are studying him a little bit harder right now and trying to get a good grip on what exactly he is, so they can go out and compete.”
The former Wisconsin standout is not only doing an excellent job on the field, but also in his quick adaption of the playbook. “I think he’s doing an excellent job of learning the offense,” Patricia told reporters when asked about Cephus. “But really learning the individual technique, and he has a little bit of that football savvy, maybe if you want to call it, about him that is allowing him to handle the mental part of it.”
Wisconsin fans should not be surprised about last year’s top Badger target’s fast start at the next level. The only question should be why so many other teams let the Badger wideout fall to the fifth round.