Jonathan Taylor (23) became the most prolific freshman RB in NCAA history.
With a fairly unassuming 6-yard run early in the second quarter of Saturday’s Orange Bowl, Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor broke the major college rushing record in a season for a freshman.
Taylor hit a hole on the right side of the Badgers' line and picked up six yards and a first down... and a chunk of history.
The previous record of 1,925 yards was set by Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson in 2004.
Jonathan Taylor
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) December 31, 2017
@AdrianPeterson
@Ron33Dayne
No player has run for more yards in his freshman season than Jonathan Taylor. #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/awfTZJxfcC
Taylor entered the game just 79 yards shy of Peterson’s record despite picking up a sparse 41 yards on the ground in Wisconsin’s Big Ten title game loss to Ohio State.
Outside of that frustrating loss, though, Taylor truly had a freshman season to remember:
- Ran for at least 100 yards in 10 of 14 games
- Ran for at least 200 yards three times
- Averaged 6.8 yards per carry
- Scored at least one rushing TD in his first seven career games
Taylor finished the game with 26 carries for 130 yards, and one catch for 13 yards. After a season of highlights, Saturday night Taylor added two more notches -- a bowl win and a piece of history -- for good measure.
