The bye weekend apparently came at the perfect time for one of the top linebackers in the country.
Chris Borland missed most of Wisconsin’s Oct. 19 win over Illinois with a tweaked hamstring. While there was some concern that, even with the off time, Borland could miss additional game, time, the senior was listed as the starter on UW’s depth chart Monday.
Head coach Gary Andersen appeared to be cautiously optimistic about Borland’s availability for the Iowa game Saturday, although the team will continue to be cautious with the starter during practice in an effort to keep him from aggravating the injury.
“We’ll see when we get out there (about practice),” Andersen said. “I expect him to play, yes. Practice, we’ll be careful. We’ll continually watch him and monitor him as it goes. Our trainers have done a good job getting him to this point.”
Borland is far and away the Badgers’ leading tackler with 57; the next closest is Michael Caputo‘s 34. He’s also tied for second on the team in sacks (two) and third in tackles for loss (three).
Monday, he was announced as one of a dozen semifinalists for the 2013 Butkus Award, given annually to the nation’s best linebacker.