[lawrence-newsletter]When the GM of the Detroit Lions Bob Quinn talked through the decision to take Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus in the fifth round of the NFL draft, he mentioned that a former Badger was instrumental in the process. Former Badger and current Detroit Lions OC Darrell Bevell played a key role in bringing in Wisconsin’s top receiver.
Once upon a time, Bevell played a starring role in a storybook season at Wisconsin. Bevell was the starting QB at Wisconsin from 1992-1996, and was crucial in then Head Coach Barry Alvarez turning the tide in Madison. The former Badger QB led Wisconsin to a Rose Bowl win in the 1993 season — the first Badger Rose Bowl appearance since 1963 — in which the Badgers defeated UCLA 21-16. During a coaching career that has lasted over two decades, Bevell began at the collegiate ranks before taking his first NFL job in Green Bay as the QB coach from 2000-2005. He then landed his first OC job with Minnesota in 2006, before moving on to serve the same role in Seattle and now in Detroit.
During Quinn’s online media availability following the final day of the NFL draft, the Lions GM raved about the talent that Cephus brings to Detroit. “Cephus is a really, really strong player, very physical, great catch radius, strong hands,” said Quinn.
The Lions GM went on to add that Bevell’s relationship at Wisconsin played a part in their interest with Cephus. “Coach Bevell has a strong relationship up at Wisconsin and one of his former teammates is one of the coaches up there,” said Quinn. “We really got a good recommendation on that player [Cephus] in the fifth round.”
The former teammate that Quinn could be referring to is Wisconsin offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph, who was the starting left guard on the 1993 Rose Bowl winning team that had Bevell at QB. According to the Lions GM, the relationship between the two proved important in Detroit’s prospect evaluation, and eventual selection, of Cephus. The saying ‘once a Badger, always a Badger’ certainly holds true in this case.