Wisconsin Badgers vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors: Final Thoughts From The 28-0 Win by Erik Buchinger

Wisconsin Badgers redshirt freshman running back Taiwan Deal has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after a strong showing against Hawaii last week.

READ ALSO: Taiwan Deal Emerging as Go-To Back

Deal carried the ball 26 times for 147 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Wisconsin’s 28-0 shutout of Hawaii.

.@BadgerFootball RB Taiwan Deal is the #B1G Freshman of the Week, with 147 rush yds and 2 TDs pic.twitter.com/atUYnjZi3I — Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 28, 2015

Deal becomes the first Badgers player to win freshman of the week since the guy he’s taking over for — the injured Corey Clement — won the award in November of 2013 after taking 11 carries for 108 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a win against Indiana. Clement won the award twice his freshman season.

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The award is Deal’s first in his first major action as a Badger. Deal was the workhorse Saturday as the running game kept alive an offense struggling to find its rhythm in the passing game. Deal’s two touchdowns came in the first half as Wisconsin took a 14-0 lead into halftime.

The freshman led the way for a Wisconsin rushing attack that topped 300 yards on Saturday night. The Badgers utilized a two-fullback blocking scheme with both Derek Watt and Autin Ramesh paving the way, and ran Hawaii off of the field.

Deal will certain have his chances to win the award a few more times this season as the Badgers will be without Clement for several weeks as he recovers from a sports hernia. Deal has shown he’s a capable contributor, and there’s no reason to think the Badgers won’t keep handing hi the ball.

He’ll have his next opportunity Saturday when Wisconsin hosts Iowa.