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Where I Come From: My All-Time Favorite Badgers

By Adam Hoge

This is the fourth in a week-long series of posts sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011.

I feel like I once again have to preface this post by reminding readers that I was not a Badger fan before 2004. That means you find Ron Dayne on this list (although I do remember watching him during his senior year and rooting for Wisconsin in the 2000 Rose Bowl because he was so impressive).

So here they are, my three favorite Badgers of all-time since 2004:

  • Erasmus James (DE, 2001-04) - If the 2004 group is my favorite team, then Erasmus James has to be one of my favorite players. He was so dominant that season and was still an All-American despite getting injured on a dirty block against Purdue.
  • Jim Leonhard (DB, 2000-04) - The ultimate underdog, if you didn't like "JL" then you don't like football. A walk-on turned starter turned team-captain, it's a shame he didn't get a scholarship until his senior year despite being a three-time First Team All-Big selection. He left UW with 21 career interceptions which is tied with Jamar Fletcher for the school record.

  • Brian Calhoun (RB 2004-05) - The Colorado transfer only played one season at Wisconsin but he got his money's worth. Calhoun became only the second player in NCAA history to total 1500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in one season and his 2,207 all-purpose yards rank second in school history. He got a ridiculous 348 touches that season and I remember worrying about him burning out. Eventually he slowed down a little bit but after a month off, he put up 213 yards and a touchdown in the 2006 Capital One Bowl victory over Auburn, which was good enough for MVP honors.

    Who are your favorite Badgers of all-time?

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