Wisconsin Football: 3 takeaways from road win vs. BYU
By Zach Bigalke
2. Jonathan Taylor continues to develop into the next great Badgers back
Wisconsin’s newest star running back has arrived after the team’s rushing offense regressed toward the mean last season. Freshman runner Jonathan Taylor has already racked up 436 yards and five touchdowns through his first three games as a Badger. Against BYU, he showed no signs of slowing down in his first college road game.
Taylor finished the day in Provo with 128 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. The youngster eclipsed what established LSU star Derrius Guice was able to do against the Cougars defense, as he averaged more than seven yards per carry in the win.
Last year, Wisconsin found it much harder to run the ball than it had been in recent years. The line couldn’t get quite the same push, Corey Clement battled through injuries, and the coaching staff was left with a lot of question marks in the backfield.
Taylor effectively answers all those questions. Despite losing a few key starters along the line, they have returned to their road-grading finest as Taylor continues to churn through opposing defenses. The freshman running back will be a pivotal part of Wisconsin’s Big Ten championship bid and College Football Playoff aspirations this season.