Portage County Gazette

By John Kemmeter

Amherst native and former Amherst High School standout Tyler Biadasz of the University of Wisconsin football team was named First Team All-American by Pro Football Focus (PFF) Monday, Dec. 3.

A redshirt sophomore center, Biadasz was also named a First Team All-Big Ten selection this season by both the conference coaches and conference media when the All-Big Ten Team was announced Wednesday, Nov. 28.

As a redshirt freshman last year, Biadasz was a Third Team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media in his first season as a starter, while he has started in all 26 games for the Badgers the last two seasons.

In 12 starts this year, Biadasz helped Wisconsin (7-5) lead the Big Ten in rushing with 268.4 yards per game, which ranks seventh nationally.

He was selected to the 2018 PFF All-American Team as the First Team center, after PFF gave him the highest-run blocking grade among all centers in the nation this season.

Joining Biadasz as PFF First Team All-American selections were Wisconsin sophomore running back Jonathan Taylor and Wisconsin senior guard Beau Benzschawel, while Wisconsin senior guard Michael Deiter was Honorable Mention All-American.

On the All-Big Ten Team, Biadasz, Deiter and Benzschawel were named First Team All-Big Ten by both the conference and media, while junior tackle David Edwards was a First Team selection by the media and Second Team by the coaches, as four of the Badgers’ offensive linemen received First Team honors. Deiter was also selected as the Rimington-Pace Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Meanwhile, Taylor was selected as First Team All-Big Ten at running back by both the coaches and the media, and named the Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year. Redshirt freshman tight end Jake Ferguson was Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media on offense, while the Badgers’ defense had four All-Conference selections in senior linebacker T.J. Edwards (First Team media, Second Team coaches), senior safety D’Cota Dixon (Third Team coaches and media), senior linebacker Ryan Connelly (Third team coaches, Honorable Mention media) and senior linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (Third Team coaches, Honorable Mention media).

As a redshirt sophomore, Biadasz is eligible to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft, which will be held April 25-27.

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper ranked Biadasz third among centers on his Big Board Nov. 14.

In PFF senior analyst Mike Renner’s first 2019 Mock Draft that was released Dec. 3, he projected that Biadasz would be selected 20th overall in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings.

The Badgers will conclude their season against the University of Miami (7-5) in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York City Thursday, Dec. 27, in a game that will be broadcast live at 4:15 p.m. Central time on ESPN.