Wisconsin's freshman tailback P.J. Hill could rattle off a list of stats and watch lists that would make any running back blush -- but safety Donnie Johnson doesn't seem too impressed.

So what if Hill is in the midst of one of the greatest rookie seasons in college football history? So what if only Heisman hopeful Garrett Wolfe has run for more yards? So what if Hill's averaging 36 more yards per game than Tony Hunt?

Johnson said he didn't think Hill has the speed to get around the corner -- and that was only the beginning of what the Penn State safety said.

"Hit him before he can hit you; hit him low and hard. Make him think about that," Johnson said. "Make him run with tippy toes, know what I'm saying?

"You get after a freshman earlier, they'll be tip-toeing by the fourth quarter."

If Johnson was implying that Hill couldn't take a hit, he wouldn't be the only one. Badgers' coach Bret Bielema suggested his tailback needed "toughen-up pills" after last weekend's game.

Hill left the game after suffering a nerve injury to his neck and returned for several plays before sitting out for good. According to Wisconsin athletic director of communications Justin Doherty, Hill has practiced every day this week and has been cleared to play tomorrow.

That probably doesn't come as great news to most of the Penn State defense. Hill is No. 6 in the nation in rushing yards per game and is one of only five freshmen in Division I-A history to gain 1,000 yards in his first seven games -- Emmitt Smith and Marshall Faulk are among the others.

"He's the biggest, most physical back we've played all year," Paul Posluszny said.

So far, Hill has played a huge role in the Badgers' offense, accounting for nearly 75 percent of the running game and 40 percent of the entire offense. So, stopping Hill would obviously put a halt to a lot of Wisconsin drives.

That's why, Johnson said, it'll be crucial for the Lions to hold Hill to between "three-to-five yards" each attempt and keep him inside the box. Even Justin King acknowledged as Hill goes, so probably will the Wisconsin offense.

"We'd be taking a lot of their offense away," King said. "P.J. Hill is a great running back, so [stopping him] is gonna be detrimental. It'll be a one-dimensional thing."

Hill's success may come as a bit of a surprise this season. Like Michigan's Mike Hart, he was an under-the-radar prospect in New York -- Rivals.com listed him as a two-star recruit.

Still, he's more than made up for that ranking this season with 1,222 yards and counting.

"I don't know if we expected him to be this good," Wisconsin quarterback John Stocco admitted. "He's done a great job for us this year ... just can't talk enough about P.J."