Jonathan Taylor out to prove he’s the Nation’s top back

Entering the 2019 season, Jonathan Taylor is on a mission to prove that he is the Nation’s top back and worthy of being a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

As a true freshman stepping foot on the University of Wisconsin Campus in 2017, I can’t imagine many expected Jonathan Taylor to become one of the most prolific running backs in Badgers’ history.

By week two of that season, Taylor would take over the starting job and hasn’t looked back since. That year he would rush for 1,977 yards – breaking Adrian Peterson’s single-season FBS freshman rushing record, as well as finishing sixth in the Heisman Trophy race.

As impressive as that season was, Taylor eclipsed his 2017 numbers in one fewer game this past season. With over 300 rushing attempts, Taylor totaled 2,194 yards on the ground with 16 touchdowns, and also hauled in eight receptions for an additional 75 yards.

Taylor was voted a consensus All-American in 2018 and also took home the Doak Walker Award which is given to the Nation’s top running back.

But perhaps what makes Taylor’s numbers even more impressive was the state of the Wisconsin Badgers’ offense last year. With inconsistent quarterback play, the offense was incredibly one-dimensional, meaning defenses would put eight or nine defenders in the box just to stop Taylor. However, it was evident that they couldn’t even do that.

What will likely be Taylor’s final season with the Wisconsin Badgers before he enters the 2020 NFL draft, he will once again be the workhorse in this offense, but this year he is set out to prove that he can be a complete back.

Areas that he has worked on include becoming more of an every-down back. For his first two seasons he has primarily been used on first and second downs, and in 2018 third downs were often left for Garrett Groshek.

Now, in Taylor’s defense part of the reason for that is third downs provide him with a much-needed break. Considering he has over 600 rushing attempts in 2017 and 2018, if the Badgers do plan to use him more on third downs this season, they’ll have to find new ways to give him a breather.

We all know what Taylor can do on the ground with the ball in his hands, but he can receive more third-down snaps by proving that he can be a reliable pass blocker and a pass-catcher out of the backfield.

In today’s NFL, they’ve gone away from running backs like an Adrian Peterson who is going to run the ball 25 times a game, but rather teams want a back that can be a threat in the passing game as well as someone who can pick up blitzes or free pass rushers as a blocker.

Although Taylor’s reps as a pass blocker were limited in 2018, running backs coach John Settle said he greatly improved that area of his game last season.

As far as pass-catching, in an interview with The Athletic, Taylor said that he has been working diligently on his route running and his catching of the ball every day so that when fall rolls around and the pads are on, he will be ready to go.

During Melvin Gordon’s first three seasons at Wisconsin, he would total just three receptions during that span but in his final season, he would haul in 19 receptions for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Since arriving in the NFL he has developed as a pass catcher and plays an important role in the L.A. Chargers passing attack.

Taylor is hoping to make similar strides in 2019.

Entering this season, Taylor was voted the Big Ten’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year by the media and is a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. He was also the 26th overall pick in Todd McShay’s way too early 2020 mock draft.

He has proven that he can’t be stopped on the ground but in 2019, Taylor wants to continue to expand his role in the Wisconsin Badgers’ offense and prove that he is college football’s top back and that he is worthy of being a high first-round draft pick.