David Gilbert's parents and younger brother made the trip to Madison from Florida this weekend to help the defensive end for the University of Wisconsin football team celebrate his 18th birthday Saturday.

"I had to give them something," the true freshman said.

Gilbert's gift came in the form of a spectacular punt block that led to a touchdown during the Badgers' 37-0 rout of Purdue at Camp Randall Stadium.

UW had noticed from watching film of the Boilermakers' punt team that going airborne over the three-man wedge might be an option. That's exactly what Gilbert did when he went high above Purdue's 6-foot-6, 292-pound Peters Drey and blocked the punt before flipping over and landing on his head.

Teammate Aaron Henry scooped up the loose ball at the 9-yard line and took it in for a touchdown that gave the Badgers a 24-0 lead with 4 minutes, 30 seconds remaining until halftime.

"David looked at me right before that play and said, 'Coach, can I jump this one?' " UW coach Bret Bielema said. "I said, 'Absolutely, knock yourself out.' Unbelievable play."

Gilbert stole a page out of teammate Chris Borland's book. Borland, also a true freshman, jumped over the wedge and blocked a punt that Gilbert recovered in the end zone for a touchdown during UW's 44-14 win over Wofford Sept. 19.

A native of Coral Springs, Fla., Gilbert has impressed teammates with his athleticism since arriving at UW last January as an early enrollee.

"His nickname around the locker room is 'Dwight Howard,' " said Henry, referring to the all-star forward for the Orlando Magic. "The kid has ability out of this world. (He has) muscles on him that I've never seen on a normal human being. I know his future is very, very bright."

Good recovery

UW sophomore Philip Welch, who missed short field goals in consecutive games, bounced back by making all three he attempted against Purdue.

Bielema had threatened to bench Welch in favor of true freshman Alec Lerner if Welch didn't snap out of his funk.

"I'll give him credit, he's been battling through a little bit of some (groin) soreness," Bielema said. "Phil's been a good kicker and obviously has a lot of ability. He just needed to get his mind right ... and he did that.

"It was not an easy kicking condition out there. It was swirling around pretty good, so I was very pleased for him to be able to do that."

Welch, who had been pushing his kicks wide right, converted from 22, 32 and 42 yards to improve to 11 of 17 on the season.

"I aimed left a little bit today, I'm not going to lie, because I wasn't feeling like I was hitting it straight middle," Welch said. "They were all still going a little bit right.''

Positive karma

It's been a tough season for Henry, who lost his starting cornerback position after two games. But the touchdown he scored on special teams helped his confidence.

"My grandma, she always told me just to be patient,'' he said. "Things may not go the way you want them to go and when you want them to go. But eventually they will come around. So I just think, even though it was a small thing, me picking up a blocked punt and scoring it for a touchdown, I feel it gave me an opportunity ... to get the money off my back in a sense.''

Good start

UW played its first game without one of its biggest playmakers on defense, but Borland more than picked up the slack.

Making his first career start in place of redshirt freshman outside linebacker Mike Taylor, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Iowa, Borland recovered two fumbles against Purdue, including one that he forced.

Borland stripped Purdue tailback Al-Terek McBurse late in the third quarter, then pounced on it at the Boilermakers' 20-yard line. Later, he recovered a fumble by Jaycen Taylor on Purdue's final drive that sealed the shutout for the Badgers.

"I am having a lot of fun," Borland said. "I just do my job and try to let opportunities come to me and try to take advantage."

Borland leads the Badgers in fumble recoveries and forced fumbles with three apiece.

"The kid is unbelievable," Bielema said. "He's a good football player. The offensive coaches want him at fullback or running back, I want him to play on every special teams, and (defensive coordinator Dave Doeren ) wants him on defense on every play."

Chemistry lesson

It should come as no surprise that Kraig Appleton 's much-anticipated first reception came on a pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Curt Phillips.

The two have developed a good chemistry during practice.

"I get to work with Kraig a lot in practice," Phillips said. "I feel real comfortable with him. His hands are humongous. You know anytime it's in his area, he's going to snag it for you."

Phillips found Appleton for a six-yard gain in the third quarter, then again for a nine-yard gain on a third-and-10 on UW's next series that set up a short fourth-down conversion on a run by freshman Montee Ball.

"The wait is over," Appleton said. "It wasn't too bad. I just had to be patient."

Extra points

Bielema said the only significant injury was to reserve safety Kevin Claxton. The sophomore suffered an apparent concussion on UW's first kickoff. ... Junior right guard Bill Nagy played in his second game. Nagy, who has been out with a foot injury sustained in a moped accident over the summer, hadn't played since UW's game against Wofford Sept. 19.

Related

• Running away with things: Wisconsin 37, Purdue 0

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