Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor, CB Nick Nelson receive weekly Big Ten awards

Two more Wisconsin Badgers earned Big Ten player of the week honors after their 24-10 win over the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday.

Cornerback Nick Nelson was named the conference’s special teams player of the week, while running back Jonathan Taylor received co-freshmen of the week honors on Monday.

Late in the first quarter, Nelson picked up a Wolverines punt at midfield and took it 50 yards for a touchdown. It was the first time since Kenzel Doe’s 82-yard return versus Utah State in 2012 that a Badger took a punt return for a score. The redshirt junior also returned another punt 18 yards while tallying two tackles and pass break-ups a piece.

Taylor rushed for 132 yards on 19 carries (6.9 yards per attempt) against a stout Michigan defense. His 1,657 rushing yards and 150.2 yards per game on the season places his third in the nation heading into Saturday’s game against Minnesota (2:30 p.m. CT, ABC).

The Salem, N.J., native received the award alongside Indiana running back Morgan Ellison, who rushed for 149 yards on 15 rushes and two touchdowns against Rutgers.

It is the seventh time Taylor has earned this award, now tying him with Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett (2014) for the most achieved in Big Ten history.