Best Wisconsin football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore – From Ron Dayne to Jonathan Taylor

Perhaps running back Jonathan Taylor was born a tad too late? Had he played for Barry Alvarez, he may have joined Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne as Heisman Trophy winners in school history. Even though he was never a finalist for the award, he was a better college running back than people can even realize. There’s a reason he’s on the Mount Rushmore and not Ball or Gordon.

Taylor won the Doak Walker Award in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019, earning unanimous All-American status in the process. He was First-Team All-Big Ten every year he was in Madison, taking home Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2017 and Big Ten Running Back of the Year in 2018 and 2019.

Taylor leaves Madison with 6,174 career rushing yards on 320 carries for 50 touchdowns in only 41 games. He nearly rushed for 2,000 yards every season in school, coming up only 23 yards short as a freshman in 2017. Had he gotten over the 300-carry threshold, he would have certainly eclipsed it. Without a doubt, he’s the best player to play for Paul Chryst at Wisconsin.

The cement is still wet on Taylor’s football career. He projects to be a top-40 pick in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft. He’ll go in either the first round or the second. Depending on where he lands and how much tread he has left on the tires, his football career could just be getting started. Regardless, he’ll be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame many years from now.

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