MADISON – P.J. Rosowski, who joined the Wisconsin program as a walk-on in 2014 and last season developed into arguably the No. 1 kickoff specialist in the Big Ten, has been rewarded with a scholarship for 2017.

Rosowski, a graduate of Stoughton High School, was informed earlier this week by head coach Paul Chryst.

The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Rosowski won the kickoff job in camp before last season and became a consistent weapon for UW. He recorded touchbacks on 51 of 79 kickoffs, a league-best mark of (64.6%).

Rosowski put one kick out of bounds, leaving opponents with 27 returnable kicks. More than half of those returns (14) were stopped short of the 20-yard line.

UW finished third in the Big Ten in points allowed (15.6 per game), behind Ohio State (15.5) and Michigan (14.1)

The work of Rosowski and the coverage unit contributed to those numbers.

The Badgers allowed just nine scoring drives after the 51 touchbacks (17.7%) -- five that ended in field goals and four that ended in touchdowns.

Opponents went three and out on 18 of the possessions (35.3%).