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With the NFL slated to kickoff in mere days, we at B5Q have been churning out scouting reports in anticipation for the NFL Draft highlighting the former Badgers who will aim to make an NFL roster come fall.
In addition to our scouting reports brought to you by Owen Riese, we thought it might be a fun trip back down memory lane to review some of the top plays produced by some of the prospects with the best odds to be selected this weekend.
In the latest edition of our top plays retrospect series, we look to one of the best tailbacks in college football history, Jonathan Taylor.
No. 5: Stiff arm and swerve
Jonathan Taylor is leaving his mark on the Big Ten Championship game.
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) December 8, 2019
13 carries
135 yards
1 touchdown
…at halftime. Wisconsin up 21-7 on Ohio State.
(via @CFBONFOX)pic.twitter.com/OVOKkCH2Vx
While this run didn’t end up in the end zone, Taylor shakes a couple would be tackles to make a short gain turn into a chunk play. The junior tailback had plenty of plays to choose from, but this carry was representative of his rare combination of speed and strength.
No. 4: Spin cycle
College Football Touchdown Leaders
— IKE Badgers Podcast (@IKE_Badgers) December 27, 2019
1. Jonathan Taylor WIS (26)
2. Xavier Jones SMU (25)
3. Darrynton Evans APP (24)
4. LeVante Bellamy WMU (23)
5. JK Dobbins OSU (22)
6. Malcolm Perry NAVY (21)
6. Chuba Hubbard OKST (21)
8. Jaret Patterson BUFF (20)pic.twitter.com/e0SnCT2Wh5
I absolutely loved this play from Jonathan Taylor late in the Iowa game. After finding an opening in the defense, Taylor breaks a tackle via a sweet spin move. He is then able to outrun a defender who had the angle on him before eventually stepping out of bounds after a nice gain.
No. 3: Right up the gut to the end zone
"Wisconsin comes out and smacks Ohio State in the mouth" - Gus Johnson
— Steve Frederick (@_SteveFrederick) December 8, 2019
A 5 Plays, 83 Yards drive is capped off by a 44-yard Jonathan Taylor touchdown run. pic.twitter.com/8getAEUoHP
Taylor takes the pistol handoff and does not look back, carving through the middle of the Ohio State line to the end zone for a huge score early in the Big Ten Championship game. The high step at the end is a nice cherry on top.
No. 2: Jump cut and go
HEISMAN WATCH ALERT @BadgerFootball RB @JayT23 already has 183 total yards and 4 total TD...there's still 13 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. pic.twitter.com/eT9SjRvnX7
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) August 31, 2019
In the opening game of the season, JT put on a clinic. This run in particular caught my attention in person because there didn’t appear to be any running lanes early on, but he makes a quick jump cut and explodes through a sliver of an opening in the line for a house call. This play demonstrates his stellar vision as a ball carrier.
No. 1: Speed for days
Go ahead, Superman @JayT23 breaks loose for his second TD of the game! pic.twitter.com/LUZ44JkZuL
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 21, 2019
His longest rush of the season gets the top spot. Demonstrating some patience and balance to allow his blockers to carry out their blocks, Taylor proceeds to burst out of the gates for a 72-yard scamper. He flips on the afterburners and doesn’t look back to send an early message against Michigan.
You can check out a full highlight video of Taylor courtesy of Wisconsin Athletics below.