Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 200 pounds, Wisconsin linebacker and punt block extraordinaire Jonathan Casillas has already made his presence felt as a true freshman. All one would have to do is ask Illinois — or better yet Minnesota — how fast Casillas can turn a game around by blocking boots alone.

As a high school football player, Casillas had a lengthy list of honors and accomplishments. He was first-team all-state, the county's Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, team captain, MVP as a senior and was ranked among the top 35 players in New Jersey by Superprep. His totals included 228 tackles, 36 QB sacks, 50 TFLs, 11 forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries.

So when it came time to make a decision about where to go to school, Casillas obviously had his options open. But, according to the Brunswick, N.J., native, the decision to become a Badger was an easy one.

"When I got here, it was the only visit that made me realize that this was the place to be. I mean, it was everything: Coach Alvarez, Coach Bielema, the 80,000 people and the family atmosphere. It was all those things combined," Casillas said.

The bottom line is that Casillas is an expert when it comes to getting to the kicker. His latest blocked punt came early in the third quarter against Illinois. With the Badgers leading 20-10, the freshman was able to use his speed to get his paws on one. His punt block eventually set up a Brian Calhoun six-yard TD run and gave the Badgers a three-score lead.

Then there was the Pontiac Game Changing Performance that came against Minnesota. The Badgers were down 34-31 with less than one minute remaining. Casillas came up big with a block that was recovered in the end zone by Ben Strickland for the go-ahead score.

It is clear that plays made by special teams — specifically punt blocks — can drastically change the outcome of a game.

"There is a statistic that if you block a punt in a game, then there is an 80 percent chance of [winning]," special teams and outside linebacker coach Brian Murphy stated. "That speaks for itself. Doing one thing to have an 80 percent chance of the game going in your direction is a tremendous swing in momentum."

So what separates Casillas from the other punt blockers? Well, it probably has something to do with his physicality, great speed and knowledge of the game. Casillas himself said that you can do a lot with the combination of these three things.

"He is a smart player, a tremendous athlete, strong and has a knack for the game," Murphy expressed.

By talking to Casillas, one would find him extremely modest. He gives credit to his coach, saying Murphy has a strong game plan each week and holds an important focus for details.

Casillas explains that it is not all about blocking the kick. He views himself as a main contributor on the punt return team. Even if he does not get a block, he tries to spring Brandon Williams for a big return.

But there is more than meets the eye when it comes to Casillas. He is a developing linebacker who's seen his playing time steadily increase behind starter LaMarr Watkins in recent weeks. But for now, Casillas is content with his goals, one of which has him establishing himself as one of Wisconsin's greats through hard work.

"My goal is to learn as much as possible by watching the starters to see what they are doing," Casillas said. "I also try to go in and watch as much film as possible."

The coaches definitely see a bright future for Casillas. With his athleticism and work ethic, he has the opportunity to excel as a Badger.

"He has knowledge of the game and he is constantly trying to get better and find a way to improve," said Murphy.

But the freshman does not overlook the true importance of his experience here at Madison. He says that his most important task is to graduate from Wisconsin.

"First things first — I have to get a degree," Casillas joked, "because if I don't, my mom will not let me back in the house."