Borland, White named to award watch lists

Make it three for three for Wisconsin football players on award watch lists after the announcements of the Maxwell and Bednarik award watch lists on Monday morning. Badgers running back James White was named to the Maxwell Award watch list, given to the best college football player in the country, and linebacker Chris Borland was named to the Bednarik Award watch list, given to the best defensive player in the country.

White comes in to this season with the 2nd most career rushing yards of any returning running back in the country at 2,571 yards. He also is the lone running back in the country to own a career rushing average of six yards per carry. This was his first nomination to this award watch list. White rushed for over 1,000 yards his freshman season, earning the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award for his efforts. Last season White ran for 806 yards, averaging 6.4 yards per carry, and scored 12 touchdowns.

Borland on the other hand is on the Bednarik Award watch list for the 2nd straight season after being named first team All-Big Ten for the 2nd straight season last year. Borland has a strong chance of breaking the Big Ten's all-time record for forced fumbles in a career as he has 13 and the record stands at 14 currently. Last season was the 2nd straight 100 + tackle season for the middle linebacker as he went for 104 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.

Last season the winner of the Maxwell and Bednarik awards was Manti Teo of Notre Dame. No Badger player has won the Bednarik award and only one player, Ron Dayne, has won the Maxwell Award in school history.