University of Wisconsin freshman defensive end David Gilbert celebrated his 18th birthday Saturday, but that doesn't mean the nickname given to him by the older players on the team is going to change.

Gilbert, who had a sensational blocked punt in the Badgers' 37-0 victory over Purdue on Saturday, was only a little more than two months removed from his 17th birthday when he enrolled at UW in January.

"Yes, all the time," Gilbert said in response to whether he gets teased about his age. "My nickname is 'Young David.' All of the older players (call me that)."

Gilbert has always been advanced for his age, while also being the youngest guy in his class. He's not sure how it happened.

"I don't know if I didn't go to pre-K or something," he said. "I was just always a year behind everybody."

Although he was tall, he was skinny and didn't begin to fill out until his junior year of high school. Gilbert, 6-foot-4, 234 pounds, is from Coral Springs, Fla., and attended Northeast High School in Oakland Park, Fla. He was a good enough student to graduate a semester early.

Even the UW coaches sometimes forget how young Gilbert is, which happened to defensive coordinator Dave Doeren until getting a reminder on Saturday from defensive line coach Charlie Partridge.

"He's a pup, for sure," Doeren said Sunday. "It was funny when Charlie said it was his 18th birthday, I started laughing. It really puts things in perspective when you consider the mistakes you see the guy make. It's easy to understand why he's going through some of the stuff he is."

Senior defensive end O'Brien Schofield is amused at times to hear the questions Gilbert asks during meetings.

"We all just look at him," Schofield said. "We have to remember he's still a young buck and most of us are in our 20s. ... He's an eager young man. He works really hard."

Gilbert, understandably, had a tough adjustment when he arrived. But a close relationship with Partridge, who recruited him, helped with the process.

"I think it was really hard," Doeren said. "I think he handled it extremely well, too. He did really well in the classroom. He has gained a ton of weight. He has been a model citizen. He has done a good job.

"Charlie has a great relationship with him. I think they stay in touch daily."

While Gilbert gets a few snaps on defense, his biggest contributions have been on special teams. He showed his incredible athleticism when he leaped over a blocker on the punt block. Cornerback Aaron Henry scooped up the ball at the Purdue 9-yard line and ran in for the score.

It was similar to the blocked punt by another true freshman, Chris Borland, who also leaped over a blocker against Wofford in the third game. Gilbert recovered that one for a touchdown.

"I told him all week I was going to pull a `Borland,' " Gilbert said. "He appreciated it."

Like the Badgers, Purdue uses a punt formation with three players lined up in front of the punter as "personal protectors." Gilbert made the decision to leap over 6-foot-6, 292-pound Peters Drey after watching tape of the Purdue-Ohio State game.

"He's hard to move," Gilbert said. "I watched the Ohio State game and that guy ran into him, he could knock him back. That Ohio State guy was a D-tackle. I've got to go somewhere, I've got to go up."

Gilbert doesn't get a lot of snaps on defense because of good players in front of him. But that play showed Gilbert's immense potential.

"That dude is going to be a monster," Schofield said. "He loves football. He does whatever he can when he's on the field. He doesn't get that many reps right now on base defense. When he gets out there, for a guy like that to try and make plays and give his best effort, it shows he has a bright future here."

UW coach Bret Bielema has raved recently about some of the young talent in the program. Borland, 5-10, 235, who is starting at linebacker after the injury to Mike Taylor, and Gilbert are two reasons for Bielema's excitement.

Both players are devoted weight-room fanatics, who have talked about the future and ways to push each other in their development.

"A couple of the stronger freshmen, me and him," Gilbert said. "We talk about working out in the offseason together. He knows he'll never be faster than me, because his legs are too short.

"He's a strong cat. I can appreciate that, because if you have a partner that's going to push you - especially in the offseason - to get better, the results can be very rewarding during the season."

Back in the polls

The Badgers returned to both polls - the first time all season they have been ranked in the media and coaches' polls. They are ranked No. 22 by the coaches and No. 24 by the media. They were No. 25 in the coaches' poll after starting the season 5-0.

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