While most of the talk around the Wisconsin football program has involved the College Football Playoffs rankings, one of the most interesting stories of the team has been the incredible play of true freshman running back Jonathan Taylor, who is closing in on the best season ever for a freshman back at Wisconsin.
[divider]
COMPARE: Jonathan Taylor to Any RB | Wisconsin to Any Team
[divider]
Taylor has rushed for 1,525 yards on the season and is just a few yards shy of 10th place in the school record books for the best single-season in Wisconsin history. With three games left on the schedule (and a bowl game after), it's not unreasonable to think Taylor could solidify a top-5 spot in the record book.
Here's how the top 10 looks:
1. Melvin Gordon (2014) — 2,587 yards
2. Ron Dayne (1996) — 2,109 yards
3. Ron Dayne (1999) — 2,034 yards
4. Montee Ball (2011) — 1,923 yards
5. Montee Ball (2012) — 1,830 yards
6. Michael Bennett (2000) — 1,681 yards
7. Brent Moss (1993) — 1,637 yards
8. Brian Calhoun (2005) — 1,636 yards
9. Melvin Gordon (2013) — 1,609 yards
10. P.J. Hill (2006) — 1,569 yards
Taylor is just a few yards shy of P.J. Hill, and could get to No. 6 on the list by rushing for 157 yards (the total he finished with against Iowa on Saturday) next week against Michigan.
Taylor has already put his name in the record books with the third-best effort ever from a Badgers' freshman, trailing only Dayne's 1996 season and Hill's 2006 year.
He's currently on pace for 1,983 yards, which would slot him above Montee Ball and behind only Melvin Gordon and Dayne for the 4th-best single season showing by a Badgers freshman.
Not bad for a true freshman who wasn't even the lone starter heading into week 1 and who has missed an entire half do to injuries and plenty of 4th quarters to garage time duty.
[divider]
NEXT: Tracking Jonathan Taylor vs. Ron Dayne's Freshman Season
