Tailback Jonathan Taylor has received the Big Ten’s Co-Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week honors for Week 2, the conference announced on Monday.
The accolades should not be a surprise, as the young running back gained 223 yards on 26 carries with three touchdowns in Wisconsin’s 31–14 win over Florida Atlantic on Saturday. It was the first time since Melvin Gordon’s 251-yard performance in the 2015 Outback Bowl that a Badgers player has rushed for over 200 yards.
Taylor is also the first Wisconsin back since Zach Brown in 2007 to start a game at running back as a first-year player.