MADISON, Wis. -- It was shortly after he had played perhaps his finest game in a stupendous individual season. J.J. Watt had completed his postgame media session and was still in uniform, his jersey torn but a brand new 2010 Big Ten Conference champions hat covering his head.
Watt perused the final statistics package. If he was looking over his numbers, he may still be standing there.
On Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium, Watt accomplished what might have seemed impossible: on a day when Wisconsin once again piled up an exorbitant amount of points in a 70-23 rout of Northwestern, he stole the show with his play from the defensive line.
Watt, the Badgers' outstanding junior defensive end and Big Ten Conference defensive player of the year candidate, had seven solo tackles, three for loss, a sack, two forced fumbles, and three quarterback hits, one of which forced an interception.
"There are a lot of good players out there, but J.J. is, at his position and what he has done for our defense, I can't say there is anybody in our league that is comparable," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said from underneath a Big Ten champions hat of his own.
With the 2010 regular season in the books, Watt finished second in the league with seven sacks, second in tackles for loss (21), and tied for third with three forced fumbles.
The main issue hurting Watt's defensive player of the year candidacy is the fact Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan ranks ahead of him in all three of those categories.
But whether Watt brings home the heavy hardware when the all-conference teams are announced tonight, his impact on the Badgers' season is undeniable. On a defense that is comprised of mostly solid but not spectacular players, Watt has been a constant throughout Wisconsin's march to the conference championship and a likely Rose Bowl berth. He is a playmaker in the truest sense of the label.
"J.J. has great instincts. He has the ability to anticipate plays, knocking down balls, running down plays from behind," Bielema said. "He plays 100 miles per hour with a huge heart. ... If anybody is playing better than him, I'd like to know.
"He's fun to be around, and I'm excited to get another game with him."
The way Watt dominated Saturday's game, and the way he's been playing all season, it seems that maybe the only offensive line that could really stop him shares the same locker room.
Wisconsin's offensive line has been a mauling unit all season. It is worth listening to Badgers guard John Moffitt when he gives his impression of Watt's play this year.
"Aside from the fact that most people have been unsuccessful blocking him, you also have to gameplan a little bit to him, too. I don't see too many people running to his side, which is tough. That's a big difference," Moffitt said. "When you start becoming the type of player that coaches have to say, 'OK, let's change our gameplan for him,' now you're a real disruptive force ... even if you're not making 10 tackles a game.
"He's the guy you have to key into. I'm just impressed with J.J.'s work ethic. He's so focused, so reliable. You know you can count on him."
