When discussing Wisconsin’s running backs, one name sticks out above the rest: sophomore Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2017, doing nothing but amazing en route to a record-breaking freshman campaign. He broke Adrian Peterson’s FBS record for rushing yards as a freshman with 1,977 on 299 carries, doing so by eclipsing 100 yards in 10 of 14 games and compiling five 150-yard performances and three 200-yard games.
Naturally, Taylor’s name was prominent among a slew of college football’s top awards:
- Doak Walker Award finalist
- Maxwell Award Semifinalist
- Walter Camp Player of the Year Award semifinalist
- Second-team All-America (AP, FWAA, Sporting News, Walter Camp)
- Freshman All-America (FWAA, ESPN, USA Today)
- First-team All-Big Ten
- Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year
- Two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
- Eight-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week
- Sixth place in Heisman Trophy voting
One area where Taylor could expand his game in 2018 is as a receiver.