One of the most productive players in recent college football history is leaving school early. Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor will forego his final year of college eligibility to enter the 2020 NFL Draft, he announced in a video posted to Twitter.
Taylor isn’t considered to be a first-round pick by most analysts as of right now, but he’ll be among the first handful of running backs to be selected and has the potential to rise throughout the process. In his latest mock draft, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller had Taylor getting taken 54th overall. Taylor became a starter at Wisconsin as a freshman, and instantly started etching his name in the record books. During Wisconsin’s bowl game this past week, he became the second college player ever to have multiple 2,000 yard rushing seasons.
He finished with at least 1,977 rushing yards in all three of his college seasons, and has the most ever by any player through his junior season. He was a unanimous first-team All-American in each of the past two seasons, and won the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s best running back in each of the past two years as well. The Badgers legend was a non-factor in the passing game his first two years, but managed to catch 26 passes for 252 yards and five touchdowns in this most recent campaign. That aspect of his game will be crucial for his draft stock.
Go get him Baltimore. could be a long term partner for Jackson giving their running styles. That or houston.
As a Badger fan I think that would be a great pairing.
Wisky put a LOT of wear on that kids tires. Gotta be a concern.
Good on him for getting out as soon as he could.
I know RBs don’t carry the value of years past but 54th? Wow!
A smaller version of Jamal Lewis. No shiftiness. Get handoff and go forward.
You’ve never seen him play if that is your ANALysis.
Great wordplay!
Lots of shiftiness!
You’re right. I live in northern Illinois where they NEVER show Wisconsin games
*insert eyeroll*
Checked the highlights: Taylor is a tacklebreaker and an outside threat. He doesn’t have many moves. Tacklebreakers don’t do well in the medium term in the NFL as they take a heck of a beating. Teams can practice their tackling and adjust their personnel to include better tacklers in the box.
Taylor’s very good speed won’t be enough to leave people grabbing the air behind him in the NFL. Samaje Perine was this kind of running back coming out of college (not as good as Taylor) and has had a very dull career.
Derrick Henry is this kind of back and does well but that’s because Henry is like a runaway freight train, even in the NFL.
this aged well
I used to see him play on HOME IMPROVEMENT all the time !!
As an Ohio State fan, I don’t know why these Big Ten RBs aren’t getting the valuation they deserve. Taylor and Dobbins are going to do well in the NFL.
Like Ezekiel Elliott?