As a fullback, Bill Rentmeester knows better than anybody that a player doesn't need a football in his hands to make an impact on a play.

The fifth-year senior from Beaver Dam showed that over and over during the University of Wisconsin football team's 20-17 loss to Ohio State last Saturday night.

Rentmeester, who is on the Badgers' punt and kickoff return units, was named the team's special teams player of the week after spending the night giving several of the Buckeyes an up-close look at the FieldTurf.

Safety Jay Valai's big hits may have gotten the most publicity, but Rentmeester's certainly didn't go unnoticed.

"Billy Rentmeester was unbelievable,'' UW coach Bret Bielema said. "He had five knockdowns, three of which were big-time hits that really were a statement in the return game.''

Rentmeester's best hit came on the ensuing kickoff return after the Buckeyes scored the go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute left in the game. After thinking momentarily about grabbing the low kick that landed near him, Rentmeester let returner David Gilreath take it and turned around to see Ohio State's Brian Rolle running right at him. Rentmeester took a few steps and delivered a blow that sent Rolle -- a high school teammate of Badgers cornerback Aaron Henry who nearly chose UW over the Buckeyes -- flying backward.

"I got that guy really good,'' Rentmeester said.

Earlier in the game, Rentmeester and teammate Antonio Fenelus combined to knock Ohio State's Brian Hartline on his backside. Rentmeester, the right guard on the punt unit, got a clean break at the line of scrimmage and was running full speed at Ohio State returner Ray Small. But Hartline was standing in his way and never had a chance when Rentmeester and Fenelus, one of the Badgers' gunners, arrived at the same time for a tag-team knockdown.

"I love going out there and knocking people down, especially if they have a run on you,'' said Rentmeester, which explains why the hit on Rolle was his favorite. ``I take a lot of pride in putting a guy down.''

The way Rentmeester sees it, his work on special teams is an extension of what he does as a fullback.

"It's perfect for me,'' said Rentmeester, who approached Bielema before the season began and asked for an expanded role on special teams as a senior after appearing on the kickoff return unit last season. "I love running down the field, and to get to hit them is pretty much what we do all the time. It's like having another offensive play, just running an (isolation play) at someone.''

Rentmeester played more snaps than usual at fullback because starter Chris Pressley missed part of the Ohio State game with an injury. Rentmeester even got three carries for 15 yards, including one that went for nine yards.

"As long as we keep making plays, getting yards, they're going to keep feeding it to us,'' said Rentmeester, speaking for Pressley. "Coach (John) Settle said before the game, 'We're going to give the fullbacks the ball three times. You've got to make good plays on it. You've got to make good reads. The first time you've got to get four yards. Short yardage, you've got to get the first down.' ''

Rentmeester has eight carries for 46 yards -- a 5.8 average -- on the season, the most important of which was an 8-yard run that sealed the Badgers' 13-10 victory at Fresno State on Sept. 13.