Can UW’s Hornibrook keep ball from Iowa?

MADISON – Ohio State quarterback

J.T. Barrett traveled to Iowa City with a résumé that included 25 touchdowns, just one interception and a completion rate of 69.5% in eight games this season.

Barrett’s numbers against the Hawkeyes: three touchdowns, four interceptions and a completion rate of 52.9%.

Safety Amani Hooker intercepted Barrett’s first pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown just 8 seconds into the game, and cornerback Joshua

Jackson intercepted three passes. Barrett, who had passed for a combined 653 yards and nine touchdowns in his previous two games, finished with 208 passing yards in the 55-24 loss to Iowa. That was his second-lowest total of the season.

UW quarterback Alex Hornibrook is set to face that Iowa defense at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.

Hornibrook has 15 touchdown passes, nine interceptions and a completion rate of 64.4%.

“They’ve got some really talented players out there – linebackers, corners, everybody,” he said. “It is going to be a good matchup.”

A matchup in which Hornibrook won’t have injured wide receiver Quintez Cephus, who is likely lost for at least the final three regular-season games and the Big Ten title game if UW qualifies.

Cephus is tied for the team lead in catches with 30 and leads the team in receiving yards (501) and touchdown catches (six).

Hornibrook insists despite Cephus’ contributions UW has enough receiving options.

“I trust the plays, the offense,” he said. “It’s not like we’re targeting one receiver every single play. It’s always that the ball is spreading around.”

How must Hornibrook, who has thrown at least one interception in each Big Ten game this season, approach facing Iowa’s defense? The Hawkeyes have 13 interceptions, second in the Big Ten to UW.

“I think you’ve just got to play and you’ve got to trust what you see,” offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph said. “And you always have great respect for the defenses you play against. But it comes from being confident in your preparation.”

Taylor ready: Freshman tailback Jonathan Taylor, who leads the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (152.0) and rushing touchdowns (12) believes he is fully recovered from a left-ankle injury that forced him to miss the second half of the Illinois game.

“I feel great – 100%,” Taylor said. “Can’t wait to roll with these guys.”

According to Taylor, the ankle was bothering him entering the Illinois game.

“Just playing throughout the game stuff gets worse,” he said. “So just to be smart they sat me out the second half. Now I’m back at full strength and ready to go.”

Taylor carried 29 times for 183 yards and a touchdown in the 45-17 victory over the Hoosiers.

“I definitely felt I was good,” he said. “The trainers told me if I felt anything, let them know. I told them I was good, ready to rock out with my guys.”

From the infirmary: Safety D'Cota Dixon, considered questionable for Saturday, was held out of practice Wednesday. Joe Ferguson, who had two interceptions and one fumble recovery at Indiana, is set to start if Dixon can't go. Reserve defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk, who has missed the last three games because of a left-knee injury, practiced again Wednesday.

Cephus remains upbeat: Right guard Beau Benzschawel has spoken to Cephus and says the sophomore wide receiver is trying to remain upbeat.

“He is always looking on the positive side of the things,” Benzschawel said. “He’s always got a smile on his face. But I tell you, if it happened to me I wouldn’t be as happy as he is…It’s always tough going through an injury.”

Benzschawel was knocked over and into the back of Cephus’ legs on the play that resulted in the injury.

“I got pushed off from the side,” Benzschawel said. “It’s one of those things. I went up to him and apologized but you can’t really control it.”