The University of Wisconsin football team had high expectations in 2020.
But as the COVID-19 pandemic showed throughout the year, expectations didn’t matter and there were more variables to try to control this season than any in recent memory.
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.
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.
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.
*Ducks*
Before you get angry and throw things, consider the situation Mertz was in.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rand announced "it was in his best interest" to step away due to injuries and their potential long-term impact.
The first five teams in the final AP Top 25 released Tuesday are very likely to be breaking in new starting quarterbacks next season, saying goodbye to a group that includes three Heisman Trophy finalists and two other multiyear starters and school record-breakers.
In the third part of our position-by-position breakdown series, UW linebacker Jack Sanborn discusses the tight ends on this year's roster as we take an in-depth look at the talented group.
Mertz spent the offseason looking inward — not just at his play and what he could do differently as a quarterback — but at what was missing in 2020 and why the old way of pushing himself wasn’t effective.
Camp Randall’s gates are back open this year, and Wisconsin's Saturday debut against Big Ten foe Penn State is an experience fans and local businesses have been awaiting eagerly.
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