5 FRESHMEN WHO COULD MAKE IMPACT FOR HORNS
In the midst of a breakout season from Quintez Cephus and the surprise freshman campaign of Danny Davis, it became easy to overlook the progress University of Wisconsin wide receiver A.J. Taylor made as a sophomore last year.
After catching just three passes as a true freshman, Taylor snagged 31 for 475 yards and five touchdowns in 2017. He severely cut down on the drops that plagued him the year before and caught the go-ahead touchdown that turned around an important late-season game against Michigan.
As the only experienced receiver to participate throughout the entirety of spring practice, Taylor’s worked to take his game to yet another level as a junior.
“When you’re younger, it’s more about what to do,” Taylor said. “Now I’m learning more about how to do it and how to do it faster, how to do it better.”
Taylor could have an opportunity to become one of the Badgers’ most versatile players in 2018. During the spring, he worked on running routes out of the backfield with running backs Jonathan Taylor and Garrett Groshek.
While both Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst and A.J. Taylor said there are no plans for him to line up at running back, Taylor played the position in high school and could present a matchup headache for defenses if the Badgers eventually opt to try it out.
Taylor could also earn another opportunity to return kickoffs