Two more Wisconsin Badgers received Big Ten Conference honors this week.
Outside linebacker Leon Jacobs was named the conference’s defensive player of the week, while running back Jonathan Taylor captured his third freshman of the week honor.
Jacobs led the team in tackles (nine), along with reeling in a key fourth-quarter interception in Wisconsin’s 17–9 victory over Purdue on Saturday afternoon at Camp Randall Stadium. It’s the first career defensive player of the week honor for the redshirt senior, who has bounced around multiple positions before returning to outside linebacker.
Taylor accumulated 219 yards on 30 carries with a 67-yard touchdown run in the victory. It was the third 200-yard-plus game for the true freshman from Salem, N.J., who leads the conference in rushing and is third nationally with 164.3 yards per contest. His 10 rushing touchdowns rank him first in the Big Ten as well.
On the season, Taylor is just 14 yards away from 1,000. According to UW, if he reaches the mark in Saturday’s contest against Maryland, the 5’11, 214-pound tailback would match the FBS record for fewest games needed to reach 1,000 yards by a freshman (seven games).
For this 3rd time this season, @BadgerFootball RB Jonathan Taylor is the #B1G Freshman of the Week. pic.twitter.com/1HyfJuIxpI
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 16, 2017