Wisconsin kicker Philip Welch has been selected to the 2008 Sporting News All-Freshmen Team. The redshirt from Fort Collins, Colorado earned the job as the starting kicker for the Badgers this season following the graduation of All-American Taylor Mehlhaff. Welch connected on 18 of 22 field goals, including a career-long 52-yard boot against Michigan, and was nearly perfect (37-38) on extra point attempts.
Welch is currently ranked fifth all-time in field goals made in a season, fourth in field goal attempts in a season and fourth in season field goal percentage. Only three players in UW history have made a longer field goal than Welch.