Jonathan Taylor

At Wisconsin, the running back era over a decade ago was a cornucopia of production for College Fantasy Football (CFF) diehards. From 2006-19, the Badgers’ run scheme behind a hulking offensive line produced some of the more prodigious ground games in the history of the game. Among the former All-American runners in Madison, Jonathan Taylor stands out as the monumental difference maker for three years on CFF rosters.

Before the 2017 season, there was little clarity in regard to the starting ball carrier in the Badgers’ backfield. Early in the campaign, I recollect profiling Taylor in a CFF sleepers column and picking up the true freshman. A letter winner, he garnered 299 carries for 1,977 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Averaging 6.6 yards per carry, he surpassed the 100-yard mark in 10 of 14 games, including five outings with 150-plus yards and three games with over 200 yards.

As a sophomore, Taylor was a unanimous first-round selection in CFF drafts, and he lived up to the hype. He led the nation in rushing yards with 2,194 and scored 16 times on the ground. Amazingly, he logged four games of 200-plus rushing yards and three touchdowns. He recorded a career-best 321 yards and three scores at Purdue and eclipsed the 200-yard barrier against New Mexico, Nebraska and Rutgers. The Doak Walker winner concluded the campaign with MVP honors in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Miami. He was named consensus First Team All-American and the Big Ten Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year.

In his final season on campus, the junior ball carrier was team captain and scampered for over 2,000 yards for a second consecutive crusade. He led the country with 26 total touchdowns (21 rushing and 5 receiving) and added a career-best 26 catches for 252 yards. In 10 games, the former Badger exceeded the century mark, and in four outings, he accumulated over 200 rushing yards. Once again, Taylor collected the Doak Walker Award and was named unanimous First Team All-American. During his college tenure, he was the seventh player in FBS history to rush for 6,000 yards and the first in three seasons. He concluded his Badgers’ career as the No. 6 all-time rusher in the FBS and No. 2 all-time in the Big Ten. Without question, Taylor merits inclusion into the inaugural CFF Hall of Fame Class.