How good is Wisky?

[Goober McTuber]

A staggering 12 University of Wisconsin defensive players earned All-Big Ten honors Tuesday, including every member of the Badgers' starting lineup against Minnesota last week.

Inside linebacker T.J. Edwards and cornerback Nick Nelson were both consensus first-team selections, while safety D’Cota Dixon earned first-team honors from the coaches but made the media’s third team.

Edwards and Nelson, both juniors, have emerged as two of the Badgers’ best players on that side of the ball and could opt to skip their senior season in order to enter the NFL Draft early.

Edwards ranks second on the team with 67 tackles, including 11 for a loss, and has grabbed four interceptions. Nelson broke a school record in UW’s win over Michigan on Nov. 18 by recording his 20th pass breakup of the season.

Defensive end Alec James received consensus second-team honors. Outside linebacker Garret Dooley and defensive end Conor Sheehy were both on the coaches’ second team and the media’s third team.

The coaches named cornerback Derrick Tindal a third-team selection, and the senior earned an honorable mention from the media.

Inside linebacker Ryan Connelly, outside linebacker Leon Jacobs, safeties Natrell Jamerson and Joe Ferguson and nose tackle Olive Sagapolu were consensus honorable mention selections.

Ferguson also won the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, which is given to one player at each school in the conference.

This is the second straight year Sheehy, Dixon, Edwards, James and Tindal earned All-Big Ten honors. Sheehy (coaches) and Dixon (media) were both third-team members in 2016, while Edwards, James and Tindal were honorable mentions.

Inside linebacker Jack Cichy and defensive end Chikwe Obasih were also honorable mention selections last year. Cichy tore his anterior cruciate ligament during fall camp and hasn’t played this season, while Obasih missed six games with a left leg injury.

UW ranks first nationally in total defense and rushing defense this season while ranking second in both scoring defense and passing defense.

The All-Big Ten special teams awards were also released Tuesday, with UW kicker Rafael Gaglianone earning consensus second-team honors. After missing most of last season with a back injury, Gaglianone has converted on 12 of his 14 field goal attempts and all 54 of his extra points.

A day after the University of Wisconsin placed 12 defensive players on All-Big Ten teams, eight of the Badgers' offensive players earned the same honor Wednesday.

UW had three consensus first-team players on offense -- left tackle Michael Deiter, right guard Beau Benzschawel and running back Jonathan Taylor.

Deiter excelled this year after switching from center to left tackle in the offseason and could opt to forgo his final year with the Badgers to enter the NFL Draft early.

Benzschawel, a third-year starter, improved in pass protection this year after being named a preseason All-American by USA Today in August.

Taylor, a true freshman, unexpectedly broke into the Heisman Trophy conversation this season. He's rushed for 1,806 yards, which ranks third nationally, and scored 13 touchdowns. He's 120 yards shy of breaking the FBS freshman rushing record set by Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson.

Taylor could be in the running for the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year Award among other major conference honors, which are set to be released Thursday morning.

"It would definitely mean a lot," Taylor said of the possibility of winning one of the conference's major awards. "There are a lot of great athletes (in the Big Ten). There are a lot of great freshmen that came in this class. To be named one of the best among them would definitely be humbling."

Tight end Troy Fumagalli was a first-team selection by the coaches but made the media's second team. He's caught 38 passes for 471 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Right tackle David Edwards earned second-team consensus honors, while redshirt freshman center Tyler Biadasz was a consensus third-team selection.

Quarterback Alex Hornibrook and wide receiver Quintez Cephus were consensus honorable mentions.

The fourth-ranked Badgers placed 21 players on All-Big Ten teams this week -- 12 on defense, eight on offense, and one on special teams. Kicker Rafael Gaglianone earned consensus second-team honors Tuesday.

Along with Taylor's opportunity for more honors Thursday, Deiter and Benzschawel could be considered for Offensive Lineman of the Year, while linebacker T.J. Edwards and defensive back Nick Nelson may be in the running for top honors at their respective positions.

UW coach Paul Chryst is likely the front-runner for the conference's Coach of the Year award, which will also be released Thursday.

[L45B]

Would have been interesting if they would've scheduled an early season game with a P5 mid-to-upper tier opponent. Nonetheless, I think the Badgers are solid team top to bottom and have only improved as the season has gone on.

If Chryst and staff study the Iowa tape close enough, they'll see that they are built perfectly to beat Ohio State. Throw short-to-intermediate passes over the middle to Fumagalli often, as OSU's linebackers are average. Gash up the middle with Taylor. Play action and go deep, preferably right at #3 CB Arnette (worst cover guy in OSU's secondary). On defense, stuff the QB runs, get in Barrett's face early and force some dumb throws. Lots of ingredients here for a UW win Saturday. Take 'em or leave 'em. Personally hoping OSU's talent takes over at some point but expecting a close game.

[Goober McTuber]

Would have been interesting if they would've scheduled an early season game with a P5 mid-to-upper tier opponent.

BYU was decent when they scheduled them. In the past several years Wisky has played LSU (twice) and Bammer. I feel they've gotten better in that regard. In coming years they have BYU again, at USF, and Notre Dame in 2020 and 2021.