MADISON - University of Wisconsin wide receiver Alex Erickson, a Darlington High School graduate, has a chance to wrap up his career as one of the Badgers' top wideouts.
Erickson is closing in on a couple of milestones as the Badgers prepare to play Southern California in the Holiday Bowl. He needs 76 receiving yards to become just the fourth Badgers receiver to reach 1,000 yards for a season. Erickson needs seven receptions to break Jared Abbrederis school record for the most receptions in a single season (78).
"It's special to be in the same area as Jared," Erickson said. "It's (setting records) not something I think about. I don't focus too much on statistics. I want to be a good teammate, leader and let the game come to me."
Wisconsin will play USC on Dec. 30. For the Badgers to have success, UW head coach Paul Chryst admits Erickson must be a focal point.
"I was around Jared Abbrederis," Chryst said. "For Alex to be in the same conversation as Abbie is very impressive. I have enjoyed being around him, getting to know him and see how he has developed on the field. If we are going to win, we need Alex to be a big part of it."
Erickson has 72 receptions for 924 yards with three touchdowns. He is averaging 77 yards receiving per game, which ranks third in the Big Ten. Erickson was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and first team by the media.
Wisconsin wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore, who was a wide receivers coach for the Oakland Raiders from 2012 to '14, is in his first year with the Badgers. Gilmore noticed one area in which Erickson excelled in comparison to most other wide receivers.
"It's his attention to details to master the position," Gilmore said. "His work ethic is unmatched by others. He wants to do it right the first time, and he takes pride in that."
After his collegiate career is over, Erickson plans to train and give the NFL draft a shot.
"He's a good route runner and determined," Gilmore said. "I don't know if you can see that on film. You can't account for all of the intangibles he brings. Alex has the same ability as the guys playing at that level. Anything is possible. It's such a crapshoot. It's a crazy league. I don't know if he will get that chance. He can handle the grind and the work it would take."
Erickson enrolled at UW in the fall of 2011 from Darlington but was not part of the 105-man roster. He didn't join the Badgers as a walk-on until the spring of 2012 after using 2011 as a redshirt year.
Erickson had offers at the time to play basketball and football in college, but he wanted to make his mark as a Badger.
"They had a great tradition with walk-ons and, being a Badgers fan, I knew it was a great school," Erickson said. All you can ask for is an opportunity. I got an opportunity, and I wanted to make the most out of it."
Erickson had a breakout junior season last year when he had 55 receptions for 772 yards and three touchdowns.
"I always believed in myself," Erickson said. "I had a lot of support from my family, brother and girlfriend. My parents have never missed a game."
Chryst said the 6-foot Erickson has a knack for going up and making a play for the ball in the air.
Erickson starred as a quarterback at Darlington High School where he racked up 2,489 total yards his senior year to go along with 33 touchdowns. He also was all-state as a defensive back. He passed for 1,250 yards and 13 TDs and rushed for 1,239 yards and 20 TDs. Making the switch to a new position in college was an adjustment period.
"I had a lot of support from older teammates and coaches," he said. "The hardest part was learning to run routes. I worked on stopping, cutting and making quick decisions. It's tougher than it looks."
Erickson said having an offensive background as a high school quarterback helped his transition to wide receiver since he learned quickly how to diagnose whether a defense was playing man defense or in a zone coverage.
"It's about making plays with the ball in your hands, which is what I did at quarterback," he said.
Erickson expects USC to play a lot of aggressive man coverage in the Holiday Bowl.
"They have a lot of good athletes and they will challenge us to throw the ball," he said.
Erickson graduated from Wisconsin on Dec. 19 with a business management degree. He also celebrated Christmas with his family early since the team left Thursday for the Holiday Bowl.
He's enjoying the anticipation of playing his last game for the Badgers.
"There is a lot at stake for the seniors and the whole team," he said. "It's the last time we will get to play together. You always want to finish your career the right way."
After the Holiday Bowl, Erickson will determine where he will train for
the NFL draft and find an agent.
"Just like at Wisconsin, all I can ask for is an opportunity and a chance," he said. "I'm looking forward to it. I never set a bar on my expectations."
He still enjoys the support from his hometown in Darlington.
"I think Darlington has been so supportive," he said. "I appreciate that. It's what a small community is about. It's something I will never forget."
Erickson is closing in on a couple of milestones as the Badgers prepare to play Southern California in the Holiday Bowl. He needs 76 receiving yards to become just the fourth Badgers receiver to reach 1,000 yards for a season. Erickson needs seven receptions to break Jared Abbrederis school record for the most receptions in a single season (78).
"It's special to be in the same area as Jared," Erickson said. "It's (setting records) not something I think about. I don't focus too much on statistics. I want to be a good teammate, leader and let the game come to me."
Wisconsin will play USC on Dec. 30. For the Badgers to have success, UW head coach Paul Chryst admits Erickson must be a focal point.
"I was around Jared Abbrederis," Chryst said. "For Alex to be in the same conversation as Abbie is very impressive. I have enjoyed being around him, getting to know him and see how he has developed on the field. If we are going to win, we need Alex to be a big part of it."
Erickson has 72 receptions for 924 yards with three touchdowns. He is averaging 77 yards receiving per game, which ranks third in the Big Ten. Erickson was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and first team by the media.
Wisconsin wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore, who was a wide receivers coach for the Oakland Raiders from 2012 to '14, is in his first year with the Badgers. Gilmore noticed one area in which Erickson excelled in comparison to most other wide receivers.
"It's his attention to details to master the position," Gilmore said. "His work ethic is unmatched by others. He wants to do it right the first time, and he takes pride in that."
After his collegiate career is over, Erickson plans to train and give the NFL draft a shot.
"He's a good route runner and determined," Gilmore said. "I don't know if you can see that on film. You can't account for all of the intangibles he brings. Alex has the same ability as the guys playing at that level. Anything is possible. It's such a crapshoot. It's a crazy league. I don't know if he will get that chance. He can handle the grind and the work it would take."
Erickson enrolled at UW in the fall of 2011 from Darlington but was not part of the 105-man roster. He didn't join the Badgers as a walk-on until the spring of 2012 after using 2011 as a redshirt year.
Erickson had offers at the time to play basketball and football in college, but he wanted to make his mark as a Badger.
"They had a great tradition with walk-ons and, being a Badgers fan, I knew it was a great school," Erickson said. All you can ask for is an opportunity. I got an opportunity, and I wanted to make the most out of it."
Erickson had a breakout junior season last year when he had 55 receptions for 772 yards and three touchdowns.
"I always believed in myself," Erickson said. "I had a lot of support from my family, brother and girlfriend. My parents have never missed a game."
Chryst said the 6-foot Erickson has a knack for going up and making a play for the ball in the air.
Erickson starred as a quarterback at Darlington High School where he racked up 2,489 total yards his senior year to go along with 33 touchdowns. He also was all-state as a defensive back. He passed for 1,250 yards and 13 TDs and rushed for 1,239 yards and 20 TDs. Making the switch to a new position in college was an adjustment period.
"I had a lot of support from older teammates and coaches," he said. "The hardest part was learning to run routes. I worked on stopping, cutting and making quick decisions. It's tougher than it looks."
Erickson said having an offensive background as a high school quarterback helped his transition to wide receiver since he learned quickly how to diagnose whether a defense was playing man defense or in a zone coverage.
"It's about making plays with the ball in your hands, which is what I did at quarterback," he said.
Erickson expects USC to play a lot of aggressive man coverage in the Holiday Bowl.
"They have a lot of good athletes and they will challenge us to throw the ball," he said.
Erickson graduated from Wisconsin on Dec. 19 with a business management degree. He also celebrated Christmas with his family early since the team left Thursday for the Holiday Bowl.
He's enjoying the anticipation of playing his last game for the Badgers.
"There is a lot at stake for the seniors and the whole team," he said. "It's the last time we will get to play together. You always want to finish your career the right way."
After the Holiday Bowl, Erickson will determine where he will train for
the NFL draft and find an agent.
"Just like at Wisconsin, all I can ask for is an opportunity and a chance," he said. "I'm looking forward to it. I never set a bar on my expectations."
He still enjoys the support from his hometown in Darlington.
"I think Darlington has been so supportive," he said. "I appreciate that. It's what a small community is about. It's something I will never forget."
