There has been a lot said about Jonathan Taylor and his NFL future. Coming into this past summer, the talk was centered on whether or not he could be a threat in the passing game. In the past, there were issues surrounding his ball security and blocking ability. The latest knock on those projecting the two-time Doak Walker Award winner to bust in the NFL seem to be centered around his usage rate at Wisconsin. Why will the Wisconsin legend prove the doubters wrong? Every time he has been met with criticism, he has improved in that area, most notably as a pass-catcher. Also, he happens to be nearly a perfect runner.
Let’s start with the fact that there is not a better pure runner in this draft. Taylor made Big Ten defenses look silly for three years in Madison. That culminated this year in 2,003 total rushing yards on 6.3 yards per carry. The Jersey native never averaged below six yards per carry during his time at UW. He has it all. The strength to finish runs, the explosion that we saw in his sub-4.4 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine, and the ability to make tacklers miss. He is also exactly the kind of person you want in an NFL locker room. There has not been a single question about his character for three years at Wisconsin.
Starting with the first major criticism, his hands, we can look at how he has improved that aspect of his game over time. This past season, Taylor came into summer workouts looking to become a better pass catcher. What did he do when the season began? How about 26 receptions for 252 yards and five touchdowns through the air. Does that answer enough questions? Taylor also made one of the biggest plays of Wisconsin’s season through the air to turn the tide against Minnesota.
Ball security was another primary issue for the junior, but was Taylor really putting the ball on the ground more than other top backs? In terms of total numbers, yes, but when you take into account the amount of touches, no. Through three seasons at UW, the star back lost 13 total fumbles. As a pass-blocker, the 5-11 speedster certainly has room to improve. Most backs entering the NFL need to improve in that area to be a 3-down back at the next level.
Taylor’s usage rate has been a common theme among those saying he is not a first round back. While the junior has been the opposite of injury prone in Madison, he does have more touches on the ground than any other top back in the class. If there is a legitimate scare about Taylor, this is it. The average career of an NFL running back is just over 2.5 years, but with no serious injury history for the junior back, it’s hard to speculate on how longevity will play out in the NFL.
Not only is the Wisconsin star the best overall runner in the class, but he has improved on areas of weakness and stayed healthy in college. Taylor is a first round talent.