Madison — Ted Gilmore wasn't sure what he had once he began studying video of wide receiver Alex Erickson.
Gilmore, prepping for his first season as Wisconsin's wide receivers coach, likes big, rangy pass-catchers. See senior Tanner McEvoy, who is 6 foot 6 and 227 pounds.
Erickson is listed at 6-0, but that might be a bit generous. He is compact at 197 pounds.
Erickson's facial features are cherubic. He doesn't look like a playmaker for whom opponents must account each week.
Then Gilmore watched Erickson on the field.
"Alex is a better player than I thought, much better," said Gilmore, who coached wide receivers with the Oakland Raiders for the previous three seasons.