Yesterday’s “By the numbers” looked at wide receiver Brandon Williams, the best Badger to wear jersey No. 1.
Today we move to jersey No. 2 and the answer was as clear as day: cornerback Jamar Fletcher.
Fletcher is arguably the best cornerback to ever come out of Wisconsin, going from a 150-pound option quarterback coming out of high school to become the Badgers’ all-time interception leader and first round pick of the Miami Dolphins.
Then-head coach Barry Alvarez saw Fletcher’s athleticism and potential coming out of high school and recruited him to Wisconsin, even though he didn’t play the cornerback position.
Well, it’s obvious the transition was a quick and easy one as the St. Louis, Missouri native started off his career with 12 games played, seven interceptions and three pick-sixes as a freshman and was a part of the Badgers’ 11-1 and Rose Bowl-winning team.
His play as a freshman got him first-team All-Big Ten honors and the most interceptions of any player in the country.
The Hazelwood East High School native picked up where he left off as a sophomore and nearly mirrored his freshman year production, playing in 12 games and recording seven interceptions and two pick-sixes.
The Badgers went 10-2 that year and won their second-straight Rose Bowl, and Fletcher finished the year first-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Fletcher’s final season with the Badgers came in 2000 as a junior where he again recorded seven interceptions but this time finished the year with first-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Jim Thorpe Award and Jack Tatum Trophy honors.
His college career ended with 34 games played in three years, 21 interceptions, five pick-sixes and a place on the Big Ten 1990-2000 all-decade team and Best & 10’s Top 100 Greatest College Football Players.
After he left school early the former Badger became the first round pick of the Miami Dolphins in the 2001 NFL Draft.
He then went on to play eight NFL seasons for five different teams during which he started 12 games and recorded seven interceptions, one pick-six, 193 tackles, four tackles-for-loss and 26 pass deflections.
Though his NFL career wasn’t necessarily as productive as his time at Wisconsin, the Missouri native stuck around for a long time and, looking back on his entire football career, there’s no doubt he is the best cornerback to ever play for the Wisconsin Badgers.
Check back tomorrow where move to the best player to ever wear jersey No. 3, another crystal clear choice of who it should be.