MADISON – One of the goals set by the Wisconsin coaching staff before the start of camp was to see some of the team’s young wide receivers perform consistently enough to earn playing time and expand the depth of the unit.

The staff is still waiting as camp enters its final week.

UW’s leading trio remains senior A.J. Taylor, junior Danny Davis and redshirt junior Kendric Pryor. Yet last week when Davis and Taylor were held out of injuries, the two receivers who got the bulk of the work with Pryor were walk-ons Jack Dunn and Adam Krumholz.

Next in line were sophomore Aron Cruickshank and a pair of redshirt freshmen, A.J. Abbott and Taj Mustapha.

Cruickshank has made some spectacular catches in camp but the staff wants to see fewer dips from day to day. Neither Abbott nor Mustapha has done enough yet to push for playing time.

That means, barring a late push in camp by one of the youngsters, both Dunn and Krumholz will have a chance to show they can contribute.

Dunn, a redshirt junior from Edgewood High School, has one catch for 20 yards. That came against Western Kentucky in the 2018 opener.

Krumholz, a redshirt junior from Stoughton High School, has one catch for 5 yards. That came last season against Western Kentucky.

“Hope is not a method,” head coach Paul Chryst said when asked about the play of the younger receivers. “I think we have had some young ones flash. But doing it consistently? Haven’t seen that yet.”

Shaw advancing along comeback trail

Tailback Bradrick Shaw hasn’t played in a game since suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the 2017 regular-season finale at Minnesota. Yet the fifth-year senior has taken hits during full-tackling drills in camp and hasn’t appeared to shy away from contact on subsequent carries.

“For him to get tackled and then have some more production, I thought it was big,” Chryst said. “I shouldn’t speak for him, but I think he has certainly cleared a number of hurdles.”

Shaw and redshirt freshman Nakia Watson appear to be a tight battle for the third spot in the tailback rotation behind Jonathan Taylor and Garrett Groshek.

“I thought Nakia has had a really good camp,” Chryst said. “He is playing. He is trusting things.”

Special delivery

Before the start of the 2018 season, then-senior tailback Taiwan Deal volunteered to fill in on whatever special teams needed a boost.

Deal performed well on multiple units and enjoyed his best season on offense by averaging 6.6 yards per carry.

Watson, whose playing time at tailback is to be determined, has followed Deal’s lead and has been working on the No. 1 kickoff-return unit.

“What I think is pretty neat with the whole running back room is what Taiwan did last year,” Chryst said. “He kind of set a tone for that group. I think Nakia has seen that and jumped on it.”

Based on what reporters have seen during camp, several key players ares set to participate on special teams.

A few examples:

Safeties Reggie Pearson and Eric Burrell, Groshek and fullback John Chenal have worked on kickoff returns.

Burrell, linebacker Leo Chenal, Pearson and safety/nickel back Madison Cone have worked on kickoff coverage.

Linebacker Chris Orr, safety Scott Nelson and Groshek have worked on punt coverage.

Consider Moorman Mr. Versatility

David Moorman, a fifth-year senior offensive lineman, has played in 41 games at UW. Most of his playing time has come on special teams, however, in 30 of 41 games.

Moorman probably won’t start on the offensive line this season but he appears capable of filling in at either guard or tackle if needed.

“The way he has approached this last year…I thought he had a really good spring,” Chryst said. “He is the first one to jump in on something and not complain. He has played tackle. He has played guard. I think that will be a big part of his role.

“And I think he is earning it. He is playing better than he has. He knows what to do and he is trusting that.”