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Wisconsin Badgers Star Leaves Team as Incoming Charges Expected

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Wisconsin star receiver Quintez Cephus is taking a leave of absence from the team with criminal charges pending against him from an incident in April.

On Saturday night, Cephus tweeted that he’s being forced to take the leave of absence after his lawyers informed him of the charges. He also denied any wrongdoing.

“I have been wrongfully accused of unlawful conduct and I am innocent of any allegations associated with this consensual relationship,” Cephus said.

The Dane County District Attorney and Madison Police Department didn’t provide information on Cephus’ charges when contacted by the Wisconsin State Journal.

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Apart from saying he was leaving the team, the other thing about Cephus’ statement that stuck out to most people was this:

“I realize that I don’t have the relationships and political pull that others may have here at the university or with the Dane County District Attorney’s office, but I am going to fight to clear my name of these allegations.”

Per Wisconsin’s Student-Athlete Discipline Policy, if Cephus is charged with sexual assault or any violent crime, he will be suspended immediately pending factual inquiry.

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He would remain on scholarship and have access to the facilities and academic support services, but would not be allowed to play or practice with the team.

Cephus spoke with Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst earlier on Saturday, and the rest of the team was notified about his leave of absence at a meeting later in the day.

“Earlier today, I met with (Cephus),” Chryst said Saturday night following UW’s practice. “I know he was planning to release a statement, and at this time I don’t have anything more to add to that.”

Cephus, a junior, was the Badgers’ top returning receiver after catching 30 passes for 501 yards and six touchdowns last season.

That is despite playing in just nine games due to a broken leg suffered on Nov. 4.

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With Cephus out and tight end Troy Fumagalli in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, Wisconsin will be missing nearly 40 percent of its receiving production from last season.

Wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore had discussed the team’s lack of depth at the wide receiver position even before Cephus’ announcement.

“I hear people talk about all this depth,” he said. “We still don’t have a lot of depth.”

Junior A.J. Taylor and sophomore Danny Davis are penciled in as the team’s starting receivers with Cephus out. The two combined for nearly 900 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Wisconsin is No. 7 in the preseason coaches poll after finishing the 2017 season at No. 6. The Badgers’ first game will be against Western Kentucky on Aug. 31.

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Ross Kelly has been a sportswriter since 2009.
Ross Kelly has been a sportswriter since 2009 and previously worked for ESPN, CBS and STATS Inc. A native of Louisiana, Ross now resides in Houston.
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