Wisconsin's Taylor shoots for the stars
FORT LAUDERDALE — Among his idols is a wellknown astrophysicist.
Among his college football recruiting visits were trips to Harvard and Yale.
No, Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor isn’t the average jock. He takes academics as seriously as he does learning the Badgers’ playbook. The combination has him on the verge of the breaking the NCAA Division I single-season record for rushing yards by a freshman. He needs just 79 yards against Miami in Saturday’s Orange Bowl to break the mark of 1,925 set by Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson in 2004.
“Coming into Madison, my expectations were just to be ready if or when my number was called so when I got in I would be able to produce for my team,” Taylor said. “I was just making sure that if they called No. 23 that I would be able to complete my assignment.”
For Taylor, completing an assignment pertains to more than just football. He is double-majoring in astronomy and physics. He developed a love for them while taking a science class his freshman year of high school.
Soon, he began admiring Neil deGrasse Tyson, a wellknown astrophysicist. Earlier this week, Taylor’s parents surprised him with a telescope for Christmas.
“Just looking at space and exploring the different aspects and just the unknown, it definitely intrigues me,” Taylor said. “I just respect the way [deGrasse Tyson] talks about space and his studies. He talks about it not asI, `know this. I know that,’ but ‘this is exciting and this is what I loved to do.’ I really loved his passion about it.”’
Taylor was so enamored with the field he strongly considered attending an Ivy League school. He visited Harvard three times before finally deciding on Wisconsin.
“Being recruited by a program like that, you definitely start thinking about your future a lot, a lot of things and a lot of doors can open up for you,” Taylor said. “It was definitely just a different experience. It was tough making a decision between those programs … Harvard definitely has great academics. They have some good football. Here [at Wisconsin], I just felt I would have a great balance between great academics and great football.”
The Badgers are thankful he made that decision. Taylor has extended the tradition of the program’s standout runners, which include Ron Dayne, Montee Ball and reigning Super Bowl MVP James White.
Taylor, who has run for 1,847 yards and 13 touchdowns, is approaching Peterson’s record despite having 66 fewer carries.
“It’s just been a special,” Badgers offensive lineman Michael Deiter said. “That kid has got a bright future. He’s played way older than he is. It’s just kind of the person he is. In fall camp, he was playing like he is right now. It will be interesting to see where he goes from here. He’s such a mature kid … It’s nice to see a freshman come in and have such a mature mindset.”
The Wisconsin staff knew Taylor was different from the beginning. He entered motivated after being rated as a three-star recruit by most scouting services despite setting the New Jersey high school single-season rushing mark with 2,815 yards as a senior.
“I knew he was a special kid because of the way he wanted to learn,” Wisconsin offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph said. “He truly, every last detail, he wanted to learn from the moment he signed to be a Badger. I’m like, ‘Ok, that’s pretty intriguing to me.’ A lot of guys, they like the fanfare, but they don’t want to jump into pass protection and know how that works right away. He did. He brought a great mindset.”’