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Wisconsin Football: Individual Players to Watch vs. Northwestern

By Noah Seligman

EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 05: The offense for the Wisconsin Badgers prepares to take on the defense of the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on November 5, 2016 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 05: The offense for the Wisconsin Badgers prepares to take on the defense of the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on November 5, 2016 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WI – NOVEMBER 21: Running back Justin Jackson
MADISON, WI – NOVEMBER 21: Running back Justin Jackson /

Justin Jackson, RB Northwestern

BYU’s opening drive against Wisconsin a couple weeks ago saw the Cougars push around the Badgers up front.  Of course that was the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal day (and season) for the BYU offense.

The challenge is much more significant this week against the Northwestern Wildcats.

Quick, without googling, name the Big Ten’s leading rushing from 2016?  If you said Saquon Barkley that’s a reasonable guess.  But you’re 28 yards short.

Perhaps surprisingly, Northwestern’s Justin Jackson claimed the honor.  He led the conference with 1,524 rushing yards. He also tallied 15 rushing touchdowns along with 235 receiving yards on 35 receptions.

However, this season has not gone according to plan for Jackson.  He is currently 9th in the Big Ten in rushing averaging just 82 yards per game.  Jackson’s totaled 248 yards on 55 carries good for a 4.5 yards per carry average.

Nonetheless, the talent is clearly there and you figure at some point he’ll find his groove.  Jackson remains a diverse offensive weapon for the Wildcats and the Badger defense has to know where he is at all times.  It’s hard to envision Northwestern doing much damage in Madison without a superlative output from Jackson.