Big Ten Offense
So as you’d expect, the Wisconsin honors in this regard belong to superlative freshman Jonathan Taylor. The true frosh won the Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award.” And really, it could never be anyone else.
Taylor dominated the weekly freshman award all season. He also finished first in the Big Ten in rushing with 1,806 yards on 258 carries. That computes out to a 150.5 yards per game average. Keep in mind, no other Big Ten RB averaged over 100 yards per game.
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As you’d expect, Taylor was a unanimous pick from the coaches and the media for 1s Team All Big Ten honors along with Penn State’s Saquon Barkley.
Interestingly, Wisconsin senior TE Troy Fumagalli got the 1st Team All Big Ten from the media but 2nd Team from the media. He and Penn State TE Mike Gisecki were the top two choices.
Frankly, Gisecki should probably have been the top pick at both. After all, he has 51 catches for 501 yards and nine TDs. Meanwhile, Fumagalli has 38 catches for 471 yards and four TDs. Notably, consensus 3rd Team choice Noah Fant, the Iowa sophomore, has 28 catches for 486 yards and 10 TDs.
Sticking with the skill positions, Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus and QB Alex Hornibrook earned “honorable mention” honors from the coaches and media.
Troy Fumagalli of @Badgerfootball named 2017 #B1GFootball Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year. pic.twitter.com/pWnjLvhhBf
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 30, 2017
Of course, no discussion of the Wisconsin offense could be complete with discussing the offensive line. Naturally, Wisconsin earned numerous honors all over the OL.
- C, Tyler Biadasz (3rd Team All Big Ten for both coaches and media)
- G, Beau Benzschawel (1st Team All Big Ten for both coaches and media)
- T, Dave Edwards (2nd Team All Big Ten for both coaches and media)
- T, Michael Deiter (1st Team All Big Ten for both coaches and media)
I think as a freshman, Biadsz was always going to have a hard time getting to the 1st Team. The Ohio State’s Billy Price is perhaps the best C in the country. Elsewhere, it’s pretty impressive the Badgers got both of its T honored.
Jonathan Taylor of @BadgerFootball named 2017 #B1GFootball Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year. pic.twitter.com/ri6sSxt57n
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 30, 2017
However, I’d probably reverse the order. I think Edwards over on the right side has been the engine for the offense. A lot of big runs come from running to his side.