Wisconsin’s defense has been doing plenty of the heavy lifting this season, and now one of its biggest difference-makers is getting national recognition for it.
On Monday, the Badgers announced that Cooper Catalano has been added to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watchlist, which goes to the top defender in the country each year. Mason Posa opened the year on the preseason watchlist, and Catalano is now on the current list.
Catalano’s case is built on production that keeps stacking up week after week. The true sophomore added 14 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in Wisconsin’s win over Rutgers on Saturday, another strong showing in a season full of them.
He now sits seventh in the FBS with 89 tackles, which also leads all Big Ten defenders. Posa is fourth in the conference with 73.
He’s also chipped in four pass breakups and a forced fumble, giving Wisconsin a steady playmaker in the middle of the action every week.
The Badgers improved to 6-3 and became bowl-eligible after beating Rutgers, a game in which both sides of the ball had success. Wisconsin’s offense totaled 363 yards, with true freshman Ryan Hopkins making his first career start and shining in the role. Defensively, the Badgers held Rutgers to 4 of 13 on third down and limited the Scarlet Knights to 10 points.
Catalano has been at the center of that defensive effort all season. He’s topped 10 tackles in three straight games and is averaging just under 10 per contest, showing the kind of range and consistency that have pushed him onto the Bednarik watchlist.
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