Big Ten season halfway finished: How have the Badgers fared?
By Jim Oxley
Drew Meyer elevates over the offensive and defensive lines on a fake punt jump-throw. Jim Oxley photograph
Special teams
Wisconsin has made some big plays on special teams this season, with a blocked punt and jump-pass fake punt standing out among the highlights. One player, though, has been a consistent bright spot for Wisconsin.
Rafael Gaglianone
Rafael Gaglianone eyes up an extra point attempt against USF. Jim Oxley photograph
Last year, Kyle French and Jack Russell combined to make 14 of 21 field goals (66.6%) and 57 of 58 extra points.
Rafael Gaglianone, a true freshman out of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is 10 of 13 (76.9%) on field goal attempts this year and has made 37 of 38 extra points.
Two of his misses have been long attempts: a 50-yarder against Northwestern and a 47-yard miss against Illinois. His other miss was a 33-yarder against Western Illinois.
He hit a 51-yard field goal against LSU to open the season, his first career field goal, leading to this.
Gaglianone has become a crowd favorite, and should be a staple of Wisconsin’s kicking game for several years.