Paul Chryst, team "absolutely would" welcome back Quintez Cephus
MADISON -- The first question Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst answered on Wednesday after the Badgers' sixth fall camp practice revolved around the following:
If Quintez Cephus is reinstated and decides that he wants to be at UW, would he be welcomed back in that scenario?
Chryst made it clear.
“Yes. If it’s best for ‘Q,’ and it truly is for him, then I know his teammates and I know how we feel, we would welcome him back," Chryst said. "And yet, we got to make sure, and we’ve talked to the guys about it, it’s not about us. It’s what’s best for him, and if that is, we absolutely would.”
After being found not guilty on two counts of sexual assault, multiple reports on Tuesday stated Cephus has applied for readmission to the university and has asked UW to respond by Thursday.
According to Wisconsin State Legislature UWS 17.18, the decision for readmission will be made by UW Chancellor Becky Blank but "should be made in consultation with the Title IX coordinator."
Earlier this week, a few current and former Badgers posted on social media accounts their support for Cephus' readmission to UW with a graphic of Cephus and the phrase "Wisconsin Don't Delay, Let QT Play," and the hashtag #LetQTPlay. Among those Badgers include safety Scott Nelson, cornerback Faion Hicks, current Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Dare Ogunbowale and Oakland Raiders cornerback Nick Nelson.
The five players who spoke to the media on Wednesday -- center Tyler Biadasz, running backs Jonathan Taylor and Garrett Groshek, and wide receivers A.J. Taylor and Kendric Pryor -- all offered some form of positive sentiment about the potential of Cephus rejoining the team.
"I consider 'Q' one of my best friends and being able to play football, a game that I love and I know a game that he loves, together would be awesome," Groshek said.
"I’m fine with whatever Q wants to do. As long as Q’s happy, I’m happy.”
Both Taylor and Pryor referred to Cephus as their brother.
“I’d love for Q to come back," Taylor, the 2018 Doak Walker Award winner, said. "That’s our brother, and we would love to have him back on the field flying around with us again.”
Chryst referred to Cephus as "one of those connectors that unified different groups, and I think had a lot of respect." Groshek later expanded upon his head coach's thought.
"If anyone’s ever talked to 'Q,' you notice that his personality and his smile and his laugh are very contagious," Groshek said. "One of the nicest people that you’ll meet and that’s a reason why guys gravitate to him, and it ends up being a connector where you got a whole bunch of people that want to be around 'Q' because usually he’s smiling and laughing. That just brings more guys together."
Biadasz reiterated what Cephus, who caught 34 passes for 595 yards with six touchdowns in two seasons before being suspended by UW last August, could bring to UW. Yet like what Chryst and others stated, the decision is not about the team.
“He brings a lot to the table." Biadasz said. "Would absolutely love to have him back. He’s a very physical wide receiver. He caught a lot of balls like you guys have seen in the past. He’s brings a lot, but we just want what’s best for ‘Q.”
As of Wednesday afternoon when speaking with reporters, Chryst noted he had not been informed of any timeline. Earlier in his conversation, he also said "there’s a lot of steps for that to happen."
"There’s a lot of things that have to go on and there’s been a lot of work being done and will continue to be done so that ‘Q’ can find out what are his options."
