April 20, 2002

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wide receiver Lee Evans, who elected to stick around for his senior season instead of declaring for this weekend's NFL draft, injured his left knee in Wisconsin's spring game on Saturday.

Coach Barry Alvarez said Evans had ligament damage and might need surgery. However, Alvarez said he was optimistic Evans, who will be re-evaluated Monday, will play this fall.

Evans, Wisconsin's career leader in receiving yards, was hurt when he went up for a long pass and twisted his leg coming down.

Evans set a Big Ten record with 1,545 yards receiving last season, when he was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award that goes to the nation's top receiver.

A second-team Associated Press All-American, the 5-foot-11, 192-pound senior from Bedford, Ohio, set school records with 75 receptions and eight 100-yard games last year, when he tied a school record with nine touchdowns.

His 2,255 career receiving yards surpassed former NFL standout Al Toon's record established over four seasons. And Evans is 1,055 yards shy of surpassing conference career leader D'Wayne Bates of Northwestern.