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Football

Allen, Pauling and Bortolini earn All-Big Ten honors

Three Badgers honored with All-Big Ten accolades

MADISON, Wis. - All-Big Ten offensive selections were revealed by the conference on Wednesday morning. Wisconsin's Braelon Allen (RB), Tanor Bortolini (OL) and Will Pauling (WR) all reeled in All-Big Ten accolades across the league's three all-conference squads.

Allen, a junior running back who has announced he will be taking his talents to the NFL next spring, earned second team honors (media) after finishing second in the Big Ten with 984 rushing yards. Allen wrapped up his career as a Badger ranked ninth on the all-time UW rushing yards leaderboard with 3,494 career yards. He sits in fourth place all-time with a 5.6 yards per carry clip, trailing only Melvin Gordon, Jonathan Taylor and James White.

Bortolini (media) and Pauling (coaches) both grabbed third team All-Big Ten honors. Bortolini starred as the Badgers' starting center all season and Pauling led the Badgers in receiving with 55 catches, the fifth-most in program history.

Braelon Allen square
Braelon Allen (0) breaks into the second level against Minnesota

BRAELON ALLEN

2nd media / 3rd coaches

Junior - Running Back - Fond du Lac, Wis.

Despite missing time due to an injury suffered against Ohio State, Allen still racked up 984 rushing yards in a new-look offense in 2023. Allen finished strong, tallying a season-high 165 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in a rivalry win over Minnesota on Nov. 25.

With a Big Ten-leading 5.4 yards per carry clip (min. 150 att.), Allen recorded his third-straight season with 150+ carries, 10+ touchdowns and a 5.25+ yards per carry average. He joined former Badger Jonathan Taylor as the only other Big Ten running back to reach those benchmarks in three separate seasons over the last 10 years.

The junior from Fond du Lac also added 28 receptions in 2023, a career high and most for a Badger running back since 2019.

Allen finishes his career ranked ninth in program history with 3,494 rushing yards. He sits at fourth place all-time in yards per carry (5.9), tied for sixth with 20 100-yard rushing performances and 11th with 35 rushing touchdowns. 

Tanor Bortolini sqare
Tanor Bortolini (63) snaps the ball against Georgia Southern

TANOR BORTOLINI

3rd media / Honorable mention coaches

Redshirt junior - Offensive line - Kewaunee, Wis.

Bortolini transitioned to center in 2023, sliding over from the guard spot that he occupied next to Joe Tippmann (N.Y. Jets) in 2022. Bortolini started every game for the Badgers, leading the offensive line unit and offense with quarterbacks Tanner Mordecai and Braedyn Locke.

According to PFF, Bortolini logged an 80.8 pass blocking grade this season, the third-best clip in the Big Ten. He allowed only one sack over 477 pressure opportunities as the Badgers' centerpiece of the offensive front.

Bortolini earned the first Outland Trophy National Player of the Week award after helping the Badger backs to a dominating performance vs. Buffalo in week one. Bortolini and the Badger O-line helped the offense rush for 314 yards while allowing only one sack. 

The Badgers' offensive line finished the regular season strong, dominating Minnesota to win back Paul Bunyan's Axe. The Badgers totaled 267 rushing yards and the offensive line allowed only 2.0 TFLs and no sacks while not committing a penalty. 

Will Pauling square
Will Pauling (6) celebrates a touchdown against Illinois

WILL PAULING

3rd coaches / Honorable mention media

Redshirt sophomore - Wide receiver - Chicago, Ill.

Pauling led the Badgers' receiving corps in 2023, totaling 66 catches, the fifth-most for a Badger ever and most since Alex Erickson made 77 catches in 2015. Pauling tallied 694 receiving yards and four touchdowns. 

Pauling ranked third in the Big Ten in receptions, and ranked second with 55 catches versus Big Ten opponents. Pauling made 26 catches for 21 first downs on third downs this fall, both Big Ten highs. In fact, Pauling led all Power 5 receivers with 21 catches for first downs on third downs.

Pauling caught scores against Illinois, Ohio State, Indiana and Minnesota. He notched season highs in catches (10) and receiving yards (96) in Wisconsin's matchup with Northwestern. Pauling tallied 5+ catches in eight of the Badgers' 12 games.