Tag: A.J. Taylor

Wisconsin Football Season Review: Wide Receivers

How did the Badgers wide receivers play over the 2019 season?

Wisconsin finished its fifth season under head coach Paul Chryst as Chryst improved his overall record to 52-16 and has a posted a 34-10 record in conference games. After not winning the Big Ten West Division title in 2018 the Badgers were back in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game as the West representative for the fourth time in the last six years since the Big Ten went to its current format.

In this Badgers Wire feature we will examine the play of Wisconsin’s wide receivers from the 2019 season and take a sneak into what the 2020 season may have in store for the position:

The wide receiver unit was bolstered by the return of Quintez Cephus this past season. Cephus’ return to the team was big as he was Wisconsin’s most consistent wide receiver despite missing all of the 2018 season as he finished the season with 59 catches for 901 yards and seven touchdowns as all three led the team. In addition, Cephus caught a pass in every single game this season.

Not to mention as the competition took a rise in the month of November and over the Badgers last two games of the season Cephus was able to elevate his level of play.

In Wisconsin’s last six games he was dominant at times in particular over Wisconsin’s last three games in that stretch he caught a combined 14 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns.

Cephus’ ability to stretch the field over the last part of the season helped make sure opposing defenses couldn’t consistently load the box against Wisconsin’s run game.

The trio of Danny Davis (30-250-1), Kendric Pryor (23-278-0), and A.J. Taylor (23-267-2) caught a combined 76 passes for 795 yards and a combined three touchdowns.

With Cephus having such a productive season meant that Davis’ and Taylor’s numbers took a dip compared to what they posted in 2018. Davis led the team in both receptions (40) and receiving touchdowns (five) while Taylor led Wisconsin in receiving yards with 521 in 2018.

Davis was able to form a good connection with Jack Coan over the course of the 2018 season. In addition, with Coan being named the starter it was fair to expect that the chemistry Coan and Davis developed would carry over to this past season.

But Davis did disappear at times as there were four games where he went without a catch including a three game stretch in November. Compare that to his first two years at Wisconsin when he only had a combined three games where he didn’t register a reception.

Pryor was able to finish the season with 460 yards of total offense as he had 278 receiving yards and had 182 yards rushing to go along with two rushing touchdowns. Pryor was Wisconsin’s most effective wide receiver when it came to the Badgers jet sweep as he averaged 12.8 yards per carry. His longest rush of the season came against Michigan State when he registered a 66-yard rushing touchdown.

After Wisconsin’s big four in Cephus, Davis, Taylor, and Pryor Wisconsin also received contributions from Jack Dunn and Adam Krumholz as both played in all 14 games.

Dunn finished the year with five receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown he also had two rushing attempts for seven yards and a rushing touchdown. Krumholz caught two passes for 20 yards.

2020 Wisconsin Wide Receivers

Wisconsin was already set to lose Taylor to graduation but following Wisconsin’s appearance in the Rose Bowl Cephus announced he was entering the NFL Draft and sophomore Aron Cruickshank announced he was entering the transfer portal. With Cephus and Cruickshank departing Wisconsin the wide receiver room will look different than previously expected. The Badgers will still have Davis, Pryor, Dunn, and Krumholz as the four will all be seniors. Wisconsin knows what they have in those four as the Badgers will need either A.J. Abbott, Taj Mustapha, Stephan Bracey, or one of the three incoming wide receivers in the 2020 class to step up.

A.J. Taylor Ruled Out for the Season

The Badgers will be without wide receiver A.J. Taylor for the remainder of the season due to a right leg injury.

Wisconsin will be without senior wide receiver A.J. Taylor for the rest of the season as Taylor will miss the rest of the season because of a right leg injury.

Taylor suffered the injury in Wisconsin’s win over Minnesota as he caught a pass along the sidelines in the first half before falling out of bounds.

With Taylor done for the season, he finishes his senior year with 23 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns. Taylor also carried the football six times for 34 yards.

In his career at Wisconsin Taylor caught 89 career passes for 1,316 yards and 10 touchdowns. With his best statistical season coming last year when he caught career highs in both receptions (32) and receiving yards (521).

When the preliminary injury report was released on Monday Taylor was listed as questionable along with redshirt senior David Moorman and sophomore cornerback Rachad Wildgoose.

On the injury report that was released on Friday Moorman and Wildgoose were both listed as questionable with a left leg injury.

If Moorman can’t go redshirt sophomore Kayden Lyles will fill in at left guard and Caesar Williams who had four pass breakups and an interception against Minnesota will likely get the start in the Big Ten Championship Game against Ohio State.

The Badgers and Buckeyes are set to kickoff at 7 p.m. on Saturday night as the game can be seen on Fox.

Three Players Listed as Questionable Heading into Big Ten Championship Game

Wisconsin lists three players as questionable heading into the Big Ten Championship Game against Ohio State.

Heading into Wisconsin’s rematch against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game the Badgers ruled three players as questionable in A.J. Taylor (right leg), David Moorman (left leg), and Rachad Wildgoose (left leg).

Wildgoose missed the game against Minnesota while Taylor and Moorman both had to leave the game early against the Gophers.

Moorman has started the last six games and seven overall this season and if he can’t go on Saturday he’ll be replaced by redshirt sophomore Kayden Lyles at left guard.

True freshman Semar Melvin who made his first career start against Minnesota likely will play in his fourth game this season if Wildgoose can’t go.

Melvin despite being responsible for giving up the first touchdown to Rashod Bateman bounced back as he finished the game with one tackle and one pass breakup.

Wisconsin lost to Ohio State earlier this season 38-to-7 in Columbus, their second straight loss at the time before winning their final four games. Wisconsin and Ohio State will kickoff at 7 p.m. as the game can be seen on Fox.

 

No. 12 Badgers defeat Boilermakers, 45-21, to set up monumental showdown with Minnesota

In an up and down battle, the Badgers defeated the Boilermakers to set up a massive game with Minnesota next week.

There are some clear areas to improve, but the 12th ranked Badgers took care of the Boilermakers at home on Saturday, to become 9-2 on the season, and 6-2 in the Big Ten.

Most importantly, Wisconsin now sets up a massive showdown with their biggest rival, the Minnesota Gophers (10-1, 7-1) next week in Minneapolis.

In addition to Paul Bunyan’s Axe on the line, this matchup will have a little something bigger this year: a trip to Indianapolis and the Big Ten Championship Game to face the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes who await the winner.

Some major issues for Wisconsin to clean up for next week are the four turnovers they had today, as well as their lackluster pass defense against a backup quarterback of Purdue that they cannot have continue, especially against a quarterback like Tanner Morgan in Minnesota.

But there were also several positives, including over 600 yards of offense, an improving pass rush and a variability in play-calling that could do wonders for Wisconsin the rest of the season. Jonathan Taylor also rushed for over 200 yards for the 12th time in his storied career, and the third straight game overall.

For now, the Badgers have done everything they could do keep their hopes for Indy alive.

And now, it all comes down to next Saturday against the Gophers.

Badgers lead Boilermakers, 24-17, in record-breaking first half

Taylor and Hintze set some records in the first half of the Badgers’ Senior Day

At the half in Camp Randall, No. 12 Wisconsin led the unranked Boilermakers, 24-17.

In an action filled first-half, there could have been even more points had the Badgers not lost two fumbles, courtesy of AJ Taylor and All-American Jonathan Taylor.

That being said, there were a couple records that occurred in the first 30 minutes in Madison, and it was mostly good from Jonathan Taylor in likely his final home game as a Badger.

In the first quarter of the game, Taylor took a handoff for a modest gain, but in doing so, set a record for the most rushing yards by any player in the history of college football (FBS) in any span of three seasons, then with 5,658 yards in the three-year span. Taylor broke all-time great Herschel Walker’s record.

Then, with two seconds left in the second quarter, head coach Paul Chryst trotted out UW’s kickoff man, Zach Hintze, to attempt a 62-yard field goal, as follows:

Hintze, in remarkably just his second career attempt at a field goal, nailed the 62-yarder by a matter of inches, and set the Camp into a frenzy into the halftime recess.

The 62-yard field goal is a new Wisconsin record.

With Wisconsin only leading 24-17 at the break, there are certainly turnovers and defense to clean up in the second half, but it is always impressive to see a couple records broken in just one half of Senior Day.

Notes: Wisconsin Beats Nebraska on the Road 37-21

Game notes following Wisconsin’s 37-21 win over Nebraska.

LINCOLN, Neb. – News and notes from UW Athletics after No. 15 Wisconsin’s 37-21 victory over Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

TEAM NOTES

  • Today’s captains: senior OLB Zack Baun, junior C Tyler Biadasz, senior ILB Chris Orr, junior RB Jonathan Taylor.
  • Paul Chryst improved to 50-14 (.781) in his fifth season as Wisconsin’s head coach, becoming the 5th coach in program history to win 50 games at UW.
  • Under Chryst, Wisconsin is:
    1. 32-10 (.762) in Big Ten Conference play
    2. 23-5 (.821) vs. the Big Ten West Division
    3. 14-3 (.824) in November games
    4. 18-6 (.750) in road games
    5. 5-0 vs. Nebraska, including a 3-0 mark in Lincoln
  • Wisconsin is 50-14 (.781) since the start of the 2015 season. Entering today, only Clemson (65-4, .942), Alabama (63-5, .926), Ohio State (57-6, .905), Oklahoma (54-9, .857) and Georgia (50-14, .781) own higher winning percentages during that 5-year span.
  • UW is 39-11 (.780) in conference play since 2014, when the Big Ten went to its current divisional alignment. Only Ohio State (45-4, .918) has a better league record over that span.
  • The Badgers have won 25 of their last 31 Big Ten games, dating to the 2016 season.
  • The Badgers have won 21 of their last 23 games with a rivalry trophy on the line (vs. Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska) since 2010.
  • Wisconsin racked up 482 total yards, its secondhighest total in Big Ten play this season, trailing on the 487 yards the Badgers piled up against Michigan.
  • UW ran for 320 yards, marking the 4th time the Badgers have eclipsed the 300-yard threshold this season.
  • The Badgers owned a 9:00 edge in time of possession (34:40 to 25:20). UW entered the game leading the nation in time of possession, holding the ball for an average of 36:51.
  • Wisconsin finished with 4.0 sacks on the day, without surrendering any. This marks the 6th time this season that the Badgers have posted at least 4.0 sacks in a game.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

  • Junior RB Jonathan Taylor ran the ball 25 times for 204 yards with 2 TDs. He also added 2 catches for 11 yards.
  • Taylor now has 5,634 yards for his career, passing two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin for 2nd place on the Big Ten’s all-time rushing list.
  • Taylor’s 5,634 yards are the most ever by an FBS player through his junior season.
  • Taylor recorded the 30th 100-yard rushing game of his career. Only Ron Dayne (33) has recorded more as a Badger.
  • Taylor rushed for at least 200 yards for the 11th time in his career, matching USC’s Marcus Allen for the 3rd-most 200-yard games in FBS history. Only Ron Dayne (14, 1996-99) and Texas’ Ricky Williams (12, 1995-98) have recorded more.
  • Taylor is the first Badger to rush for 200 yards against a single opponent 3 times. He also had 249 yards vs. Nebraska in 2017 and 221 yards vs. the Huskers in 2018, giving him 674 career rushing yards (224.7 yards per game) and 7 career touchdowns vs. the Huskers.
  • Now with 21 touchdowns, Taylor is the 5th player in school history to score at least 20 touchdowns in a season, joining Montee Ball (2011, 12), Melvin Gordon (2014), Brian Calhoun (2005) and Ron Dayne (1996, 99).
  • Taylor now has 46 career rushing touchdowns, moving past James White (45) and Melvin Gordon (45) for third on UW’s career list.
  • Junior QB Jack Coan went 13-for-21 for 162 yards with 1 TD and 0 INTs for a 142.4 QB rating.
  • Coan connected with A.J. Taylor on a career-long 55-yard pass that went for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter.
  • That passed served as the longest completion of Coan’s career and the longest TD pass at Wisconsin since Joel Stave and Jared Abbrederis connected on a 63-yard touchdown pass against Northwestern (Oct. 12, 2013).
  • Sophomore WR Aron Cruickshank scored an 89-yard kickoff return touchdown in the 1st quarter, the first return TD of his career, and the first for the Badgers since Natrell Jamerson’s 98-yard kick return TD at Maryland on Nov. 7, 2015.
  • Senior WR A.J. Taylor hauled in 2 catches for 65 yards and scored the 10th receiving touchdown of his career on a career-long 55-yard reception in the 2nd quarter.
  • Junior WR Danny Davis carried the ball 3 times for 48 yards, both of which represent career highs.
  • Redshirt freshman S Reggie Pearson tallied a career-high 10 tackles, surpassing his previous high of 5 tackles.
  • Senior ILB Chris Orr recorded his 10th sack of the year on Nebraska’s first offensive series, moving him into a tie for 8th on UW’s single-season list.
  • Senior OLB Zack Baun recorded 2.0 sacks — his 2nd multi-sack game of the season and the 3rd of his career — and has 9.5 on the season.
  • Senior OLB Tyler Johnson posted his first sack of the season and the second of his career. He also tallied 3 tackles, the second-highest mark of his career.
  • Junior S Eric Burrell finished with 6 tackles and forced his second fumble of the season and the fourth of his career.
  • Sophomore ILB Jack Sanborn snared his second INT of the season, intercepting Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez in the second quarter.
  • Sophomore K Collin Larsh was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals, matching his career high. He also connected on 3 FGs at Illinois earlier this season.

 

Grading Wisconsin’s Victory over Nebraska

What grades did Wisconsin earn in their 37-21 victory over Nebraska to retain the Freedom Trophy?

Grading No. 15 Wisconsin’s 37-21 win over Nebraska.

Offense: B

For the third time in his career Jonathan Taylor went over 200 yards rushing against Nebraska as he finished with 204 yards on 25 carries and two rushing touchdowns.

Taylor’s rushing performance against Nebraska puts him past Herschel Walker (5,596 yards) for most rushing yards in a career through his junior year as Taylor now has 5,634 rushing yards in his career.

Taylor’s longest rush of the day against Nebraska was 19 yards and like last week he wasn’t tackled behind the line of scrimmage as he averaged an impressive 8.2 yards per carry.

In total Wisconsin rushed for 320 yards on 45 carries. Despite Danny Davis (3-48) not catching a pass against Nebraska he and Nakia Watson (8-36) combined to rush for 84 yards on 11 carries.

Outside of Wisconsin’s offensive line continuing to get the better push to allow for Wisconsin to consistently pick up positive yards rushing the football as the Badgers only allowed one tackle for loss. In addition, the Badgers made sure Jack Coan stayed clean as he wasn’t sacked for the first time this year.

Coan didn’t turn the football over as it snapped a three game streak of him turning the football over at least once but there were instances where he didn’t always place the football where his intended target could make the catch.

The first example would be on Wisconsin’s opening offensive drive. Coan was able to complete a screen pass to Taylor but he had to reach back and catch it with one hand. Taylor started to cut upfield but never completely secured the football as JoJo Domann was able to force the fumble. Taylor should have done more to protect the football but if Coan is able to place the football more squarely in his chest the Badgers avoid there only turnover of the game. Nebraska was able to cash Taylor’s fumble into seven points.

The second example was on Wisconsin’s last offensive possession of the first half. On 3rd and goal at Nebraska’s six Coan attempted a pass to A.J. Taylor but the throw was behind him making it a difficult catch.

Overall Coan finished the game 13-for-21 (61.9 percent) for 162 yards and a touchdown. Coan’s touchdown throw was to A.J. Taylor for 55 yards, eclipsing the previous season long pass of 52 yards, which occurred last week against Iowa from Coan to Quintez Cephus. Coan was able to complete passes to seven different players while A.J. Taylor’s 65 yards led the team Kendric Pryor (30 yards) and Quintez Cephus (23 yards) each caught three passes.

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