Badgers' Chryst, Taylor, Fumagalli win Big Ten awards
It's been a special season for the Wisconsin Badgers and Thursday some members of the team reaped the rewards.
Running back Jonathan Taylor, tight end Troy Fumagalli and head coach Paul Chryst were all given year-end awards by the Big Ten. Interestingly, no member of Wisconsin's defense -- ranked No. 1 in a myriad of defensive categories -- was honored.
Taylor was named the Big Ten's top freshman. He leads the conference and is third in the nation in rushing yards with 1,806. He is tied for the first in the nation in rushing plays of 10+ yards with 57 and is averaging 7.0 yards per carry to go with his 13 touchdowns. Taylor lost out on the running back of the year award to Penn State's Saquon Barkley.
Taylor won the Big Ten's freshman of the week award a record eight times this season.
Fumagalli, a senior, was tabbed the conference's tight end of the year. Playing in 11 games, Fumagalli leads Wisconsin in receptions with 38, while compiling 471 yards and four touchdowns. While not the leading pass-catcher in the Big Ten, Fumagalli is also noted for his blocking skill.
Chryst was named Big Ten coach of the year in awards handed out by both the media and coaches after leading Wisconsin to a Big Ten West Division title and its first undefeated regular season in the modern era. He has the 12-0 Badgers on the precipice of making the college football playoff with a win in Saturday's conference championship game against Ohio State. Wisconsin enters the weekend ranked No. 4 in the playoff rankings.
