DaytonDailyNews.com

Until his senior year at Troy High School ended, Shane Carter wasn't sure if he would play football in college. The Wisconsin football team is happy with his choice.

Carter, a redshirt sophomore defensive back, leads the Badgers with four interceptions and is fourth on the team with 39 tackles heading into today's game against top-ranked Ohio State. But for him, there's no motivation to prove himself against his home-state school, the one where his brother, Cris, was a superstar before moving to the NFL.

"I just took my visit to Wisconsin,"

Carter said, "and I fell in love."

Carter played in nine games as a true freshman in 2005 and was scheduled to contribute more last season before a torn labrum in his shoulder sent him to the sidelines. He redshirted and returned this season to start every game at free safety.

Today, he will face an improving Ohio State pass offense with main receivers Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline, but Carter feels he is playing well.

"I think I'm playing at a high level, getting better every week," Carter said. "There's room for improvement, but I'm satisfied with the way I'm playing.

"This week, I need to take a big jump, get better and make plays. I just want to continue to play well."

Hill could play

One major question about today's game is the availability of running back P.J. Hill, the Wisconsin sophomore who has already rushed for 2,635 yards (1,066 this season) in his short college career.

Hill suffered a leg bruise during the first quarter of last week's win against Indiana.

"Any time you have a running back that had a leg injury, there will be concern," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said earlier this week, "but the initial X-rays were good."

Quick hits

• Wisconsin is 3-14 against teams ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll. The Badgers' last such game was against Michigan on Nov. 15, 1997, a 26-16 loss.

• When Bielema started his coaching career 17-1, it was the second-best start in Big Ten history. The best? Former Michigan coach Fielding Yost. He started 55-0-1 from 1901-05.

• The Badgers have rushed for a combined 610 yards in their past two games, wins against Northern Illinois and Indiana.

• Junior linebacker DeAndre Levy was the Big Ten's defensive player of the week after making eight tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery against Indiana.

• Freshman receiver Kyle Jefferson, a

6-foot-5, 195-pounder from Cleveland Glenville High School, was last year's Ohio Division I state champion in the 400 meters. He has played in all nine games for the Badgers and caught 21 passes for 374 yards and two scores.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389

or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.