There’s no doubt we are currently living in a unique and uncertain time. In early March during what seemed like a two-hour time span the NCAA conference tournaments and March Madness were cancelled and the NBA season was postponed, with baseball, the Olympics and many other sporting events following suit in the ensuing weeks.
The only event still planning to operate on schedule, albeit with a few alterations, is the NFL draft later this month. With today’s guidelines on social distancing and crowds, the event was moved from its planned location in Las Vegas to online with representatives from each team set to gather remotely in order to place their team’s selections.
Obviously with things such as pro days and in-person interviews being cancelled, the pre-draft evaluation process this year is unlike any other. What hasn’t been as talked about as much, though, is what the players are doing to stay in shape and prepare for their potential NFL careers.
Former Wisconsin running back and all-time great Jonathan Taylor talked with Reggie Bush of Fox Sports on Monday and explained what he is doing to prepare for the draft with gyms closed and social distancing measures in place, and about how he sees his game translating to the next level.
“Everyday’s different,” Taylor said to Bush via Fox Sports.“Because so many places are closed down…sometimes we’re in a trainer’s garage, then go to a random field to get field work in. You have to try to find different spots and different ways to work out and it varies every day.”
One thing that the former Badger star has been able to control, though, is his diet.
“Thankfully being at EXOS during the combine for training, being on a nutrition meal plan and being able to learn from that has definitely helped me out,” Taylor told Bush per Fox Sports. “Especially during a time period like this, now if I did have to go out to the store…I’m able to understand and know what my body needs.”
Bush then asked Taylor about whether the amount of carries he had in college will have an effect on his draft position and on his play at the next level.
“A lot of NFL scouts I’ve been talking to have been mentioning that some teams like to look into it, especially if you have an injury issue. Fortunately for my case I didn’t have to really miss any time during my three years at Wisconsin,” Taylor said. “There were some scouts who actually liked it. They said it means [I’ve] seen a lot of things and have a lot of experience.”
Taylor finished his college career with 6174 rushing yards, 50 touchdowns and a whopping 6.7 yards-per-carry. The two-time Doak Walker award winner also showed out at February’s NFL Combine, running a 4.39 second 40-yard dash at 226 pounds—for comparison current New York Giant running back and former Penn State Nittany Lion Saquon Barkley ran his 40 in 4.4 seconds at 233 pounds. Taylor is currently projected to be selected in the late first or early second round come draft day.
Here is a link to the full Fox Sports interview.