WR Quintez Cephus "forced to take leave of absence from team"

Wisconsin wide receiver Quintez Cephus will "take a leave of absence" from the Wisconsin football team, the junior announced Saturday evening.

Cephus, who has played in 23 games with 13 career starts, was expected to be the Badgers top wide out in 2018. UW opens the season in 13 days against Western Kentucky.

According to Cephus' statement, an April incident led to an accusation of "unlawful charges." Wisconsin has yet to release a statement in regards to Cephus' status with the team.

UW head coach Paul Chryst spoke with local media members after Saturday’s practice, saying that he met with Cephus earlier in the day and knew the junior wide receiver was planning on putting out a statement but declined to comment further.

“At this time I don’t really have anything more to add to it,” Chryst said Saturday.

Asked about how Cephus’ absence changes the picture at wide receiver, Chryst said they will need some of their other players to step up.

“As far as football-wise, you have the group and ... A.J. and Danny and K.P. have played and they’ve got to continue to develop. And then there’s going to be some other guys when you’re talking about depth. I think that’s where Jack Dunn and Adam Krumholtz have given themselves opportunities and then you have a young group that has to start coming out of the fog.”

Should Cephus miss extended time, A.J. Taylor, Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor would round out the top three options at the position, with true freshman Aron Cruickshank likely in the No. 4 spot.