Mid-Season Awards for Badger Football

As we enter week seven, the Badgers sit at 3-2 after a blowout win over Purdue. The team has looked very up-and-down on the field so far, and has also already lost several key starters on offense. So as we approach the halfway point, let's take a look at some mid-season awards for the Badgers.

Freshman of the Year: CB Xavier Lucas

True freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas has made a big impact in just a short time for the Badgers. He led all Wisconsin cornerbacks in snaps against Purdue in week six, and was also graded as the best true freshman according to PFF. He's also registered one of the Badgers' two interceptions this season. Halfway through the year, there's really not much debate as to which freshman deserves this award.

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Tawee Walker

This one was a little trickier. With the injury to quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, the departure of running back Chez Mellusi, and the lack of a dominating receiver, there isn't an obvious choice. However, Tawee Walker's six rushing touchdown's are hard to ignore. He's averaged a pedestrian 4.2 yards per carry so far this season, but his knack for finding paydirt is what makes him so valuable this year. He'll have full reign of the backfield moving forward and should have even more scoring opportunities.

Defensive Player of the Year: S Hunter Wohler

There haven't been a ton of splash plays for the Badger defense this season, but safety Hunter Wohler has been as steady as ever. He leads the team in tackles with 29 and passes defended with four, and is once again the heartbeat of the defense. Hopefully he and the team can generate more sacks and turnovers in the second half of the season, but Wohler is the most reliable defender the Badgers have.