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Wisconsin Football Countdown: No. 3, Lee Evans

By Jim Oxley

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As the countdown to the first Wisconsin football game of the season continues, Badger of Honor is taking a look at Badgers by the numbers, checking in on a different Badger or Badgers players who wore the number corresponding with the remaining days until the Badgers head to Texas to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday, Sept. 5.

Next up in our countdown, signifying 3 days until college football is back, is Lee Evans.

One of the most decorated receivers in school history, Evans spent 1999-2004 at UW.

Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers /

Wisconsin Badgers

Over that time he quickly went to work locking down receiving records for most yards in a game (258 against Michigan State in 2003), season (1,545 in 2001), and a career (3,468). He was tied with tight end Travis Beckum with 75 receptions in a single season for the most in school history until Jared Abbrederis caught 78 passes in 2013. From 1999-2000 Evans set a school record with 38 straight games with a reception.

Evans also holds single-game (5), single-season (13) and career (27) touchdown records for the Badgers.

His breakout year in 2001 led to big expectations in 2002, though an ACL injury put him out for the season. He came back strong in 203, still recording over 1,200 reception yards. His single-season totals of 1,545 yards in 2001 and 1,213 yards in 2003 are the two best single-season marks in school history.

Evans averaged 19.0 yards per catch in 2003, 19.2 yards per catch in 2000, and 20.6 per grab in 2001. He has three of the top four single-game and five of the top ten single-game yardage totals in school history.

Evans was the 13th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. He played in Buffalo until 2010, and finished his career in Baltimore in 2011. He finished his NFL career with 381 receptions for 6,008 yards and 43 touchdowns.

Who wore No. 3 first?

• Center Douglas Simmons was the first Badgers player to wear No. 3 in 1931.

Who wears No. 3 now?

• Tanner McEvoy will wear No. 3 this season after the decision was made for him to play defense. While he will start the season on offense, his number is now No. 3 so as not to conflict with No. 5 Darius Hillary when playing safety.

Who wore No. 3 last?

• Recently graduated wide receiver Kenzel Doe was the last Badgers player to wear No. 3. While he never became a huge part of Wisconsin’s offensive attack, he was a steady force on special teams and the Badgers will need to dig deep to replace him this year.

Stay tuned to Badger of Honor as we continue our daily countdown in preparation of the season opener against Alabama.

Next: Wisconsin Football Experience

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