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2013 Big Ten Media Days: Vonte Jackson, Marquis Mason officially out for year

Knee injuries will officially cost the Badgers the seasons of two offensive players that were expected to contribute in 2013.

By Mike Fiammetta

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USA TODAY Sports

Day two of 2013 Big Ten Media Days is underway, and the first bit of actual news from Wisconsin has come through. Redshirt freshman running back Vonte Jackson and junior wide receiver Marquis Mason will both miss the 2013 season due to recurring knee issues.

Jackson, from Kenosha Bradford High School, tore an ACL for the third time when he suffered the injury to his right knee this summer. The former four-star recruit also tore his right ACL last fall, following a torn left ACL during his senior year of high school. Jackson had been expecting to fight his way back from the injuries to contribute this season, possibly as the third running back behind senior James White and sophomore Melvin Gordon. Instead, that role will likely fall to incoming freshman Corey Clement from Glassboro, N.J.

Mason, meanwhile, tore his ACL for the second time this summer. The Madison East High School graduate could have been part of a large group of widely inexperienced receivers battling for time behind redshirt senior Jared Abbrederis.

"You watch both of those kids battle back and then get knocked back down again," Andersen told ESPN Wisconsin. "When those kids get in those situations, with a second injury or a third injury, you start to really worry about how they're going to come back mentally. Is football in the picture? Is it not in the picture? That's secondary to me. Lets make sure we don't fall off the table here, school wise. Make a poor decision because it's woe is me, all the things that come with it."

Andersen, for what it's worth, said he won't prevent Jackson from making his fourth comeback down the road.

Mid-morning notes:

-- I thought this quote from Andersen was surprising, and while I agree, it's more anti-bluster that led everyone to peg him as boring yesterday. Not there's anything wrong with that.

-- Chris Borland says he wasn't surprised to see former Badgers defensive end/outside linebacker David Gilbert wanted to play again, especially closer to home. Gilbert transferred to Miami earlier this summer after it was thought his college career was over due to injuries.

-- Tanner McEvoy will indeed be ready to go once fall camp opens on Aug. 5. The incoming JUCO transfer quarterback was the victim of a robbery early Sunday morning in downtown Madison.

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