Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor working to improve in passing game
Jonathan Taylor is already one of the best backs in college football with at least 1,900 yards rushing the past two seasons. Taylor is working hard to improve in the passing game this summer.
Jonathan Taylor is already on NFL scouts’ radar going into his junior season at Wisconsin. He is even receiving talk as a possible first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and is being mentioned as possibly the best running back in the draft class. Breaking Adrian Peterson‘s freshman rushing record with 1,977 yards and following that up with 2,194 yards as a sophomore will do that.
No one is questioning Taylor’s ability as a runner. He has the speed, vision, balance, and power to be very successful at the next level. If there is one thing to be questioned about his game, it’s his ability to contribute as a receiver. He was subbed out in most third down and obvious passing situations.
In an interview with Jesse Temple of The Athletic, Taylor says he is working to improve his route running, pass-catching, and pass-blocking skills this offseason to become a more complete back.
According to running backs coach John Settle, Taylor has been working hard this offseason to better learn the route tree and blocking schemes within the offense. Taylor, when asked what he was focusing on this summer, said:
"“…routes every day, catching every day, pass protection every day… and making sure when fall camp comes, I’m ready to put it on display on the film so coaches built that trust and know they can put me in there [on third down].”"
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Jonathan Taylor is already one of the best running backs in the country and is poised to have another big season for Wisconsin in 2019. If he can indeed show improvement as a receiver and pass blocker, don’t be surprised he’s the first running back off the board in 2020.