White Recieves Big Ten Honor

For the second straight year a member of the Wisconsin football team has brought home the Freshman of the Year honor. Last year it was linebacker Chris Borland. This year it's running back James White.

The freshman from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. rushed for over 1,000 yards in his first season as a Badger. As well as finding the endzone 14 times, but it was only recently that White truly stepped into a larger role.

At the beginning of the season their was a lot of talk about White. How good could he be? Would he play? Could he red-shirt? The answers to those questions have now been answered, and the Freshman of the Year honor only proves the results even more. White is good...really good.

On a team with a "three-headed monster" for a rushing game the freshman led the Badgers in rushing during the regular season. Rushing for more yards than starter John Clay, and sophomore Montee Ball. But it was in Clay's absence that White came into his own.

Injured during the Iowa game White was unable to play against the Purdue Boilermakers two weeks later. Then Montee Ball stepped into the starting role, but White stepped in as a true second man. With Clay on the bench with a knee injury White rushed for 459 yards and five touchdowns.

While what White was able to accomplish on the field was impressive, but it he did not do that may be even more surprising. This season White, who was playing high school football a year ago, never fumbled the ball. In his 148 touches the freshman never dropped the ball. At the same time proving to be the Badgers homerun hitter with two rushing touchdowns of over 50 yards.

White's freshman season may have impressive, but what made it the most impressive of all the freshman performances this season was who he did it with. In many cases freshman are substituted for and see limited time. Then do little with that time. This season even with limited time White was able to put together a season worth being placed in the record books, and now it will with the Freshman of the Year award.