Wisconsin Football: 4 Badgers receive All-Big Ten defensive honors
On Tuesday, Wisconsin football had four players earn All-Big Ten defensive honors, and four others received honorable mention nods.
MADISON, Wis — On Tuesday, four Wisconsin Badgers earned All-Big Ten defensive honors for the 2022 college football season, with four others receiving honorable mention nods.Â
The list of award recipients was headlined by junior outside linebacker Nick Herbig and senior safety John Torchio, who earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades. Nose Tackle Keeanu Benton (this shit is criminal) and inside linebacker Maema Njongmeta wound up on the All-Big Ten third team.Â
Herbig, who registered 47 tackles, 34 pressures, 15.5 TFL, two forced fumbles, two PBUs, and a Big Ten-leading 11 sacks, was a consensus first-team choice.Â
The Jewelry Thief, on the other hand, finished the regular season with 51 tackles, five interceptions, five PBUs, four pressures, and two touchdowns, and was a first-team choice by the media - curiously being left off any other All-Big Ten lists.Â
Now to Keeanu Benton. I need to vent. How on earth did this man go from second-team All-Big Ten a season ago to third-team after posting career numbers? The Wisconsin native had his most productive season at UW, finishing with 35 tackles, 28 pressures, 10 TFLs (2nd amongst B1G interior linemen), and added a career-high 4.5 sacks. They got this one wrong, and I needed to say that out loud...but I digress.Â
Last but not least, I'm happy for Njongmeta. In his first season as a starter, he showed flashes of brilliance and playmaking ability + came on strong to finish the year. The junior led Wisconsin with 88 tackles and added 25 pressures, 10.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks.
Others receiving honors
Linebackers C.J. Goetz and Jordan Turner were also honorable mention selections on defense. Running back/kick returner Isaac Guerendo earned an honorable mention for his work on special teams.Â
Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin football news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.
Join the Badger Notes watch party and stream Wisconsin Badgers games by following this link.
*Chat about this article over at Badgers After Dark