Reviewing the 2017 Wisconsin Badgers

The Badgers are solid on both sides of the ball; Nebraska must prepare to not make mistakes and give the game away.

The Wisconsin Badgers bring an undefeated record and #9 ranking to Lincoln this week. The Badgers opened the season with a 59-10 victory over Utah State (now 3-2), followed by a 31-14 win over Florida Atlantic (now 2-3) then a 40-6 victory at BYU (now 1-4 without Tanner Magnum at quarterback). Last Saturday, Wisconsin held off Northwestern 33-24 to open Big Ten conference action.

Sophomore tailback Bradrick Shaw injured his knee in the season opener, opening the door for true freshman sensation Jonathan Taylor (5’11” 214 lbs.), whose 129.5 rushing yards per game leads the Big Ten and ranks tenth nationally. Taylor entered preseason practice looking to be fifth on the depth chart until he exploded in a preseason scrimmage in mid-August. In just ten plays, he broke so many tackles that the coaches had no choice but to move him up the depth chart. In his first start, Taylor rushed for 223 yards and three touchdowns; in four games, Taylor has totaled for 518 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Shaw and Chris James have each rushed for 137 yards.

Quarterback Alex Hornibrook 60 of 90 passes for 898 yards and nine touchdowns with three interceptions; he’s been sacked seven times, losing forty yards with no yards gained on the ground. His favorite receiver had been tight end Troy Fumagalli with 15 catches for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Fumagalli missed last week’s game against Northwestern with a left leg injury; he’s officially listed as questionable on this week’s depth chart, though head coach Paul Chryst remarked “Troy, I think we’ll see” on Monday. Sophomore Quintez Cephus has risen up to be the top receiver this season with 14 catches for 233 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman Danny Davis is third with six catches for 152 yards and a touchdown; the emergence of the young receivers has pushed senior Jazz Peavy down the depth chart.