Jared Abbrederis walked on at the University of Wisconsin and eventually became one of the school’s all-time leading receivers. Now, he’s hoping to make the Green Bay Packers. Credit: Mark Hoffman

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Green Bay — It was a simple quarterback draw. A play Jared Abbrederis had run countless times.

Abbrederis, a sophomore at Wautoma High School back in 2006, followed his center, then cut right during a game against Adams-Friendship. And with all of Abbrederis' weight on his right leg, a 300-pound defensive tackle smashed his leg from the side.

"I knew it was bad because I saw the ball pop out," said Scott Abbrederis, Jared's father. "And Jared never fumbled."

It was bad all right.

The initial diagnosis was a torn ACL, but Abbrederis had actually broken his femur.

One of the doctors that worked on Abbrederis told the family that Jared's football days might be over.

"If you saw Jared at the hospital you might have thought he was done," said Dennis Moon, a member of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame and Abbrederis' high school coach. "It was a brutal injury.

"I know I was wondering if the kid would ever play again. But Jared worked his tail off...which is no surprise."

Perhaps the days and weeks that followed are all you need to know about Abbrederis. How he beat the odds, became the greatest player in Wautoma history, a standout at the University of Wisconsin and a fifth-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers.

Abbrederis found a physical therapist he loved. Someone who was driven and motivating all at once. And that was right up his alley.

Abbrederis was raised in a family where there are no off days. Scott is a firefighter and paramedic in town. His mother, Lisa, is a waitress. His sister Tanya graduated from Northwestern and sister Maureen currently attends UW.

But in a family of grinders, Jared has always been the ultimate worker. In fact, during his senior year at Wautoma, Abbrederis was working out three times a day, and Moon had to caution him about "overtraining."

"He's the only kid I've ever had to warn about that," Moon said.

So the way Abbrederis attacked his recovery was no surprise.

He was remarkably dedicated. He was steadfast and committed. And amazingly, just six months later, Abbrederis was competing in the state track and field meet, where he finished fourth in the 110-meter high hurdles and fifth in the 300 intermediate hurdles.

"We're not passive individuals," Scott Abbrederis said of his family. "And Jared has a good work ethic. He sets goals and has the ability and power to make them happen."

To many, it's almost unimaginable what Abbrederis has been able to make happen.

When Abbrederis was a middle schooler, the football program at Wautoma was in disarray. In fact, during the 2000 season the Hornets lost their first three games by a combined score of 171-0, and there was pressure to drop the program — something the school board wouldn't allow.

Good thing, as Moon and Abbrederis spearheaded a remarkable reclamation project.

Moon returned to Wautoma in 2006 for his third coaching stint with the Hornets. He was fortunate enough to inherit the playmaking Abbrederis and several gifted players in his class.

And in 2008, the Hornets — and their all-state quarterback — captured the WIAA Division 4 state title. It remains the only state title in school history.

"It's a neat thing," Moon said. "But I was at UW-Oshkosh the other day and went into their coaching room and they said, 'How did you only win one state title with a Green Bay Packer on your team?' They were having fun with that one."

Despite his rare gifts and passion, few could have ever guessed Abbrederis would be drafted by his boyhood team, which is just 88 miles from his home.

Most family and friends figured running track would be Abbrederis' ticket to college stardom. He was a two-time state champion and a state-record holder in the 110-meter high hurdles, as well as a state champion in the 300-meter hurdles.

"I was going to go to Wisconsin for track all along," Abbrederis, a football walk-on, said. "But I was just going to let (football) go for as long as it lasted.

"Just keep working hard and see what happens. For me, I just wanted to compete at the highest level."

It didn't take long to discover that Abbrederis could play football in the Big Ten.

In his redshirt sophomore year, Abbrederis caught 55 passes — the seventh most in school history. He also averaged 15.8 yards per punt return and 24.6 yards on kickoff returns.

Abbrederis had a solid junior season, and when coach Bret Bielema left for Arkansas, he briefly contemplated leaving early for the NFL. But Abbrederis returned and put a bow on one of the finest careers ever by a UW receiver.

Abbrederis won the 2013 Burlsworth Trophy as the nation's top player who began as a walk-on. He finished tied for the school record in receptions (202), and ranks No. 2 all time at the UW in receiving yards (3,140) and touchdown receptions (23).

"I've been watching him for a few years," Packer general manager Ted Thompson said. "Followed his track, the walking on, trying to earn his own way and his first couple of years especially, he did everything but sell hot dogs down there."

Bradley Roby would certainly concur.

Ohio State's All-American cornerback went one-on-one with Abbrederis in September. With a national television audience watching, Roby was given the job of shadowing Abbrederis and tried everything to slow him down.

Press coverage. Off coverage. You name it, Roby tried it. And nothing worked.

Abbrederis lit Roby up that night for 10 catches, 207 yards and a touchdown. Ohio State prevailed, 31-24, but Abbrederis left Columbus, Ohio, knowing he could win against elite competition.

In fact, nearly eight months later, Denver took Roby with its first-round draft pick.

"Obviously we lost, so I wasn't too happy about that," Abbrederis said. "If we won it would have been a different story.

"But it was just a mind-set mentality. I knew I'd win some, knew I'd lose some. I just tried to win more than I lost. It was a fun night."

Abbrederis' draft weekend wasn't as much fun — for a while anyhow.

His family rented a cabin to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime event. But as the three-day event dragged on, and Abbrederis hadn't been selected midway through Saturday's fifth round, the whole experience was turning sour.

Some teams were certainly concerned that Abbrederis did just four reps of 225 pounds in the bench-press at the NFL combine. Others were scared off by Abbrederis' history of concussions, which ranges between one and four — depending on whom you consult.

But the Packers eventually broke Abbrederis' fall, kept him close to home and made the weekend memorable for everyone.

"It doesn't matter how you get here," Abbrederis said. "It's what you do with the opportunity you have. You can be first round; you can be undrafted. It's what you do once you get here that's going to make you stay — or leave, I guess."

Back in Wautoma, it was bedlam.

One local establishment offered 4-cent beers for four hours in honor of Abbrederis wearing No. 4. In the days since, the town has been humming over Abbrederis and his chance to catch balls from Aaron Rodgers.

"There's just been a big buzz here," said Wautoma athletic director Tom Butt, who was once Abbrederis' physical education teacher. "It's really been great. Jared definitely deserves this."

The NFL is a new game, and Abbrederis realizes nothing will be handed to a fifth-round draft choice.

There will be opportunities to help immediately, though.

Green Bay is in dire need of a return man, and Abbrederis has a brilliant track record in that department. During the rookie minicamp last week, Abbrederis displayed his soft hands and niftiness after the catch.

The Packers also have jobs up for grabs in their wide receiver group. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb will anchor the unit, and big things will be expected of Jarrett Boykin.

After that it's wide open. And Abbrederis will be given every chance to prove his worth.

"He's definitely a very good athlete, good body control," Packer coach Mike McCarthy said of Abbrederis. "But he's like the rest of them, he needs to get orientated and get accustomed to what's being asked of him.

"Strength and conditioning, he can make some gains there. I'm very pleased he's here."

It's the ultimate rags to riches story. Abbrederis fully understands he has bucked the odds at every turn, but he is optimistic the best chapters are still to come.

"Competition is good for you, and the best man is going to be out there," Abbrederis said. "I like having the competition out there. We'll all go at it and try to make each other better and see what happens."

In Abbrederis' case, seeing has always meant believing.