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Cotton Bowl: 5 2020 NFL Draft Prospects to watch in Penn St. vs. Memphis

By Nicholas Perlich

STATE COLLEGE, PA - AUGUST 31: Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates against the Idaho Vandals during the first half at Beaver Stadium on August 31, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - AUGUST 31: Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates against the Idaho Vandals during the first half at Beaver Stadium on August 31, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 23: Patrick Taylor Jr. #6 of the Memphis Tigers rushes during a game against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 23: Patrick Taylor Jr. #6 of the Memphis Tigers rushes during a game against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

RB. Patrick Taylor Jr.. 6. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Memphis. 858

Patrick Taylor has, unfortunately, struggled through injuries during his senior campaign. While he was slated to be the feature back for the Tigers in 2019, the injuries allowed freshman phenom Kenneth Gainwell to take over that role. Taylor has returned from an injury suffered in the season opener to play in the last four games of the season. Outside of his performance against USF, Taylor hasn’t been nearly as effective as he was pre-injury. On the season, Taylor has tallied 70 carries for 300 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

Taylor is a bigger back at 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds. Naturally, with that size, Taylor is a powerful force that is tough to bring down on first contact. He isn’t just a powerful battering ram though. Taylor is also a solid receiver out of the backfield and shows some burst and explosiveness in the open field when he is able to get up to full speed. A big concern with his game is in the vision area. He sometimes struggles to find the hole or cutback lanes on runs inside the tackle.

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Hopefully, the extra time in between games has allowed Taylor to get completely healed from the ankle injury he suffered very early in the season and can put some good tape on film for NFL scouts in his final collegiate game. He has intriguing traits that project well as a complementary back at the next level. The 2020 running back class is loaded with talent, but Taylor should not be forgotten in the crowd. Hopefully, he can showcase his talent against Penn State.

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