NFL Draft 2020: Quintez Cephus selected by the Detroit Lions

Day 2 of the NFL Draft saw the first Wisconsin Badgers get selected as running back Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts) and edge rusher Zack Baun (New Orleans Saints) were taken off the board on Friday night.

The Packers (and the Eagles siiiiiggggghhhhhh) continued to make baffling picks at an alarming rate but alas, the draft moves on. Day 3 will see rounds four through seven happen and a couple of Badgers still hope to hear their names called by an increasingly comfortable looking Roger Goodell.

On Saturday afternoon, Quintez Cephus was selected by the Detroit Lions with the No. 166 in the fifth round and will get to live out his dream of playing in the NFL and catching passes from ::double checks notes:: Matthew Stafford. Eh, could be worse!

The Lions have Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola on their wideout depth chart already so Cephus will not be expected to take on a huge role right away. He’ll be able to learn behind some veterans as well as have a veteran quarterback throwing to him.

Cephus was All-Big Ten honorable mention (consensus) in both 2019 and 2017. During his sophomore season in 2017, he hauled in 30 catches for 501 yards and a team-high six touchdowns despite missing the final five games of the year due to a leg injury.

During his junior year in 2019 he recorded 59 receptions for 901 yards (15.3 average) and seven touchdowns, setting career highs and leading team in each category while playing in all 14 games, starting in five of them.

For his career he caught 93 passes for 1,496 yards (16.1 yards per reception) and 13 touchdowns and recorded nine carries for 46 rushing yards. After the 2019 season, both of the starting cornerbacks for Ohio State (who were drafted in the first round of the draft this year) named Cephus as their toughest cover of the season.

The Macon, Ga. native missed the 2018 season because he was accused of sexual assault and expelled from school. After he was found not guilty in court, he was readmitted to school just before the 2019 season and rejoined the team.

Cephus had division one basketball scholarship offers as well and uses his hoops talent well on the football field, high-pointing the ball and using his body to shield defenders from passes.