BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MIAMI — Wisconsin sophomore quarterback Alex Hornibrook moved easily along a busy corridor in the bowels of Hard Rock Stadium late Saturday night.
He had just emerged from a surprisingly quick press conference in which he revisited his performance in a landmark 34-24 victory over Miami in the Orange Bowl.
As Hornibrook made his way back to the boisterous UW locker room, dodging people and golf carts, he heard a question that gave him pause.
Did the college football world just see Hornibrook come of age?
The Badgers just finished off the winningest season in program history in large part because Hornibrook played arguably the best game of his 22-start career.
He completed 23 of 34 passes for 258 yards and a career-record-tying four touchdowns in a hostile environment against one of the better defenses in the nation.
He engineered four TD drives, utilizing six different receivers in the process, in which he was 16 for 17 for 190 yards.
He didn't throw an interception for just the fourth time this season, improving to 11-0 when he keeps that stat category clean.
He kept his wits about him when the Hurricanes jumped out to a 14-3 lead after one quarter.
It was a performance that earned Hornibrook an invitation to the postgame awards podium where he was revealed as the most outstanding player of the game.
Here is how Hornibrook answered the coming-of-age question:
"I've had so many experiences, good and bad, and I've got to learn from all of them," he said.
"I've got to do that every single game that I play. I shouldn't just have that kind of performance a couple times a season. It should be every single game.
"I've got to find a way to do that next year."
A noble pursuit for Hornibrook, whose first season as full-time starter is one for the record books nevertheless.
The sixth-ranked Badgers (13-1 overall) set a record for most wins in a season, including their fourth bowl victory in as many years.
UW went unbeaten on the road for the second time in three seasons and improved to 14-1 in true road games during the three-year-old Paul Chryst coaching era.
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Hornibrook and Co. ended the season in style, bouncing back with grit and grace from a 27-21 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Conference title game that deprived the Badgers a potential slot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
"The best part about tonight is that it was a reflection of how it's been all year," Chryst said. "Great team victory."
Hornibrook was not alone in coming of age this night and his company was spectacular, creating tantalizing thoughts for 2018 and beyond.
True freshman tailback Jonathan Taylor set an FBS record for most rushing yards by a freshman with 1,977. He recorded his 10th 100-yard outing (130 yards on 26 carries) which is second-most in a season at Wisconsin.
"This has been a magical season," Taylor said.
Another true freshman, wide receiver Danny Davis, caught five passes for 56 yards and a career-high three TDs.
Another sophomore, wide receiver A.J. Taylor, caught a career-high eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.
"Our receivers were making plays for me," Hornibrook said. "They're fun to play with."
Davis and A.J. Taylor did most of their damage on crossing routes. Hornibrook said his offensive linemen gave him lanes to step up in the pocket and deliver accurate throws.
"They played a lot of man coverage," Hornibrook said of the Hurricanes, "and these guys were winning all their matchups, so it wasn't too hard for me."
Davis was asked about Hornibrook perhaps coming of age against 10th-ranked Miami (10-3).
"Heck yeah, man, especially in an environment like this," Davis said.
The atmosphere might have been more stressful given the stakes, but Hornibrook didn't change his approach.
"Same guy, man," Davis said. "Alex did a great job of staying in that pocket and stepping up in the pocket and making his throws. He made a lot of good throws.
"Alex did a great job of putting the ball on me where it needed to be. It felt great to be there for Alex and be there for the team."
A.J. Taylor said he loves the way Hornibrook goes about his business.
"What I like is he's very mentally tough and strong," Taylor said. "No matter what's being said, he's playing his game.
"All we have to do is trust him."
A.J. Taylor said the last couple weeks of bowl practice made him think the Orange Bowl would be a defining experience for the Badgers.
"We talked about needing to have our best game," he said. "We struggled through some adversity, but I think this was our best game as a team."
Davis said a lot of work awaits him and his fellow UW youngsters.
"We can't stay the same," he said. "We have to keep grinding and keep getting better because we all have things we can fix."
But first comes some time to reflect on what Wisconsin has accomplished.
"I haven't had a chance to wrap my head around everything yet," he said. "Right now I'm just living in the moment."
Hornibrook, who finished the season with 25 TD passes – only Russell Wilson (33) has had more in a season for UW – and 15 interceptions, said it's already tempting to look ahead and think about the talent he'll have at his disposal next year.
"I'm excited about those guys," he said.
The feeling is mutual, A.J. Taylor said.
"We know we can do big things," he said.
