For those fans who are a tired of the same teams gobbling up the College Football Playoff spots and finishing near the top of the AP Top 25, here is reason to hope next season could be different.
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Year in review: Superlatives for the 2020 Wisconsin Badgers football team
Offensive MVP: Jake Ferguson, tight end
Ferguson was one of the few skill-position players who started all seven games this season. He continued to be a reliable receiving target, especially in the red zone, and was a solid blocker in the run game.
Ferguson led the Badgers in catches (30), receiving yards (305) and touchdowns (four). Defenses keyed on Ferguson after he torched Illinois and Michigan in the first two weeks of the year, but he continued his streak of catching at least one pass in all 34 games he’s played at UW.
Defensive MVP: Jack Sanborn, inside linebacker
Sanborn was the connective tissue in the middle of the Badgers’ defense that was again one of the best in the FBS. He led UW with 52 tackles, including 31 solo and four for loss.
His best performance was against Northwestern, a game in which he had 10 tackles and a sack. He and fellow inside linebacker Leo Chenal combined to form a fierce duo and that tandem will be together again next season after Sanborn announced his return to the program.
Specialist MVP: Adam Bay, long snapper
Punter Andy Vujnovich and kickoff specialist Jack Van Dyke could have won this award as well, but Bay was essentially perfect on his snaps this season.
Bay was a semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award, which is given to the best long snapper in the country. Bay snapped on punt and placekicks and never had a snap go awry.
Most improved offensive player: Graham Mertz, quarterback
*Ducks*
Before you get angry and throw things, consider the situation Mertz was in.
Most improved defensive player: Leo Chenal, inside linebacker
Chenal’s physical tools were apparent when he got chances to play in 2019, but he needed more time to learn the finer points of Leonhard’s scheme and how to disguise his assignment. He showed his growth in understanding the defense and his responsibilities this season in becoming a tackling machine for UW.
He developed into the team’s best pass rusher, leading the group in sacks (three) and quarterback hurries (seven) while finishing second to Sanborn with 46 total tackles. His 10-tackle, 5-for-loss performance against Minnesota showed how much he’d grown from his freshman season.
Offensive newcomer of the year: Jalen Berger, running back
It’s rare that a freshman finds success immediately, but Berger showed he was the most explosive and biggest threat at tailback for the Badgers this season almost from his first snap.
From his breakout performance against Michigan to being a steady force in each game he played before contracting COVID-19 late in the year, Berger was everything the Badgers expected from the four-star recruit.
Defensive newcomer of the year: Nick Herbig, outside linebacker
For a freshman to start in UW defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s scheme, he’s got to be impressive from Day One. Herbig fits that bill.
He was one of the players that caused training-camp buzz and translated it onto the field. He started all seven games for UW this season and finished with 26 tackles, six for loss, and a sack. He had seven tackles in the win over Minnesota.
Offensive unsung hero: Cole Van Lanen, left tackle
A steadying force on the left side of the UW line, Van Lanen showed better power and savvy in protecting Mertz. He battled through an injury against Iowa and that injury held him out of games against Minnesota and Wake Forest.
UW’s offensive line had to shuffle a good amount to deal with injuries and COVID-19, but when he was in the lineup, Van Lanen was everything the Badgers expected from one of their most experienced players. It’s no secret why the Badgers’ best runs this season came behind the left side of the line.
Defensive unsung hero: Isaiahh Loudermilk, defensive end
We might be stretching the limits of “unsung” here because his teammates were quick to praise his work this year, but Loudermilk was a bear to block this season.
His size and strength are obvious, but his ability to move in small spaces along the line to close gaps and to maintain his balance through double-team blocks was impressive this season. He had 13 tackles, two sacks and three quarterback hurries.
Biggest play of the year: Chase Wolf’s TD pass to Jack Dunn vs. Minnesota
Imagine the perception of the Badgers this season had they lost to the Gophers and likely not had a bowl game invite?
That was a very real possibility if Wolf, UW’s backup QB, didn’t make this play after coming off the bench when Mertz suffered a concussion. Wolf rolled to his left, got his shoulders square enough to his target to get the throw off and gave Dunn a well-placed ball all while dealing with a free rusher.
