Wisconsin football: Ryan Ramczyk, several Badgers earn midseason All-America honors

Those that wear the Cardinal and White for the No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers are earning respect after their 4-2 start. Quite a few have been awarded mid-season All-America honors by several publications and respected football reporters.

In particular, junior left tackle Ryan Ramczyk has been effusively praised for his early play this season. The former walk-on from Stevens Point earned acclaim from Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports (both by Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel’s separate lists) and Pro Football Focus.

Per Feldman’s analysis of Ramczyk:

The Badgers’ left tackle has been a standout and their best O-lineman, emerging after transferring up from Division III UW-Stevens Point with impressive athleticism for being a 6-foot-6, 315-pounder and outshining many more touted offensive tackles.

Ramczyk’s started all six games this season for the Badgers. Three other Wisconsin standouts on the defensive side of the ball also found honors halfway through the 2016 season, as seen below (assume first-team if not denoted):

Sports Illustrated

• LT Ryan Ramczyk (first team)
• ILB Jack Cichy (first team)

Per SI on Cichy:

Cichy is a steadying force for Wisconsin who makes plays in the backfield (7.0 TFLs) and brings down ballcarriers in space (50 total tackles).

• OLB T.J. Watt (second team)

Fox Sports — Bruce Feldman

• LT Ryan Ramczyk

Fox Sports — Stewart Mandel

• LT Ryan Ramczyk
• SS D’Cota Dixon

Per Mandel on Dixon:

Whenever you watch a Badgers game, this guy is everywhere, starting from his game-sealing pick against LSU. It’s tough leaving off Washington’s Budda Baker.

Pro Football Focus

• LT Ryan Ramczyk