What If.....Jonathan Taylor

[Broadhead81]

Just watching interview with Jonathan Taylor on BTN. Knew he was from Jersey but didn't realize/remember that he was committed to Rutgers before deciding on Wisky.
What if he sticks with Rutgers? Where is Rutgers now and how is he doing as an individual player? I would say not at the same level as UW's OL and style obviously plays a big role in things. But obviously the kid has talent, and turnarounds have to start somewhere. Maybe add a healthy Jayden McDonald on D ? May be a who the F cares for some people, but just interested to hear people's thoughts.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

RB's have to have a place to run. JT picked the right place.

Another interesting thought is, what would he be doing on the field if he were at Iowa? I would certainly assume he would be doing better than the Hawks RB's, but how much better? Again, he has to have room to run.

On BTN Live, DiNardo talk about Michigan St and Iowa struggling to run the ball. He thinks it is because of there are such good athletes in the secondary that they can run man coverage, leaving 8 or 9 in the box to stop the run. I think he is right.

 

[HawkOn15]

Just watching interview with Jonathan Taylor on BTN. Knew he was from Jersey but didn't realize/remember that he was committed to Rutgers before deciding on Wisky.
What if he sticks with Rutgers? Where is Rutgers now and how is he doing as an individual player? I would say not at the same level as UW's OL and style obviously plays a big role in things. But obviously the kid has talent, and turnarounds have to start somewhere. Maybe add a healthy Jayden McDonald on D ? May be a who the F cares for some people, but just interested to hear people's thoughts.

Saquon Barkley also used to be committed to Rutgers also

 

[scotthawk1964]

Rutgers doesn't have a OL any where close to Wisconsin, he would be just another back in the BIG had he chose Rutgers.

 

[cheerscoach]

What would it mean for Iowa if Higdon didn't jump ship at the last minute? Does he make a difference in the run game? Thoughts?

 

[Hawk_4shur]

What would it mean for Iowa if Higdon didn't jump ship at the last minute? Does he make a difference in the run game? Thoughts?

I don't think so. He's not better than Wadley, and I don't think he is much better, if at all, than the current RB's.

 

[Birky]

To my untrained eye, Rutgers is more than a guy or two away from dominating.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

he'd be transferring so it doesn't matter

 

[OLeeeHawk]

I don't think so. He's not better than Wadley, and I don't think he is much better, if at all, than the current RB's.

That's a bad take...eeshhh.

 

[Ripcord280]

Just watching interview with Jonathan Taylor on BTN. Knew he was from Jersey but didn't realize/remember that he was committed to Rutgers before deciding on Wisky.
What if he sticks with Rutgers? Where is Rutgers now and how is he doing as an individual player? I would say not at the same level as UW's OL and style obviously plays a big role in things. But obviously the kid has talent, and turnarounds have to start somewhere. Maybe add a healthy Jayden McDonald on D ? May be a who the F cares for some people, but just interested to hear people's thoughts.

yeah, these are all interesting questions, especially the one about if he had come to Iowa.

In the same vein, What if the 20th Maine had not repeatedly beat back the Alabamians and Texas on the third at Gettysburg? Or, what if the Confederate battle plans had not fallen into Union hands before Antietam? We would probably have at least two different countries today.

 

[DogBoyRy]

I don't think so. He's not better than Wadley, and I don't think he is much better, if at all, than the current RB's.

Guessing you haven’t seen him live lately.
He’s much better than wadley.

 

[Kurt Warner]

Wasn't ism committed to Rutgers too?

 

[Hawkeyeinsoutherncalifornia]

What If.....Jonathan Taylor... broke his leg?

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Guessing you haven’t seen him live lately.
He’s much better than wadley.

It's really hard to judge RB's, because they are on different teams, systems, OL's, etc. But, I would not have traded Wadley for Higdon.

 

[Broadhead81]

To my untrained eye, Rutgers is more than a guy or two away from dominating.

Absolutely. Agree with u and most of the other posts here. Think Kurt and HO 15 are right as well. Just interesting to think about on a Wed afternoon where it has actually stopped raining for 15 minutes

 

[funnyfletcher]

What if he added Thomas to the end of his name?

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Saquan Barkley was also a decommit from Rutgers. It has to suck to be one of their fans for as bad as they are. But to add the salt on the open wound to see you almost had 2 of the best RBs in the last 5 years in the Big 10 end up elsewhere and have so much success at those other programs.

 

[BetterLuckNextTime]

What if he added Thomas to the end of his name?

Empirical evidence would suggest that he would never be on tv again.

 

[Frosty7130]

RB's have to have a place to run. JT picked the right place.

Another interesting thought is, what would he be doing on the field if he were at Iowa? I would certainly assume he would be doing better than the Hawks RB's, but how much better? Again, he has to have room to run.

On BTN Live, DiNardo talk about Michigan St and Iowa struggling to run the ball. He thinks it is because of there are such good athletes in the secondary that they can run man coverage, leaving 8 or 9 in the box to stop the run. I think he is right.

This makes me wonder how much of Wisconsin's consistently strong run game has been RB ability, and how much is the system. Obviously Taylor is uber-talented, as were Melvin Gordon and Montee Ball, but Wisconsin RBs really hadn't done much in the NFL until recently. It's got to help being in a system where you're gonna be behind a solid to great line and get fed the rock 25-35 times a game.

 

[fezzador]

What if he added Thomas to the end of his name?

 

[mvhomerj]

I don't think so. He's not better than Wadley, and I don't think he is much better, if at all, than the current RB's.

Then why is it Iowa doesn't have a RB close to Higdon's yards this year?

 

[OLeeeHawk]

What if he added Thomas to the end of his name?

Verbal reference?

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Then why is it Iowa doesn't have a RB close to Higdon's yards this year?

I don't think the OL has provided any room to run so far this year. It would be interesting to see if a RB like Higdon or Taylor could do better.

Iowa's RB's are getting swarmed this year. Maybe they are missing the holes and better RB's would do better. But it doesn't seem like they are getting tackled by one guy, where a better back would break it for more yardage.

Yes, I'm sure you are right - Higdon is better. But, I do like Iowa's backs.

 

[Jizzer]

Then why is it Iowa doesn't have a RB close to Higdon's yards this year?

If Young had Higden's carries, they would be about equal. Higdon 101/582, Young 54/286.

 

[mvhomerj]

If Young had Higden's carries, they would be about equal. Higdon 101/582, Young 54/286.

Totally agree, it would of been nice to see Higdon in a Iowa uniform.

 

[Blair Sanderson]

Just watching interview with Jonathan Taylor on BTN. Knew he was from Jersey but didn't realize/remember that he was committed to Rutgers before deciding on Wisky.
What if he sticks with Rutgers? Where is Rutgers now and how is he doing as an individual player? I would say not at the same level as UW's OL and style obviously plays a big role in things. But obviously the kid has talent, and turnarounds have to start somewhere. Maybe add a healthy Jayden McDonald on D ? May be a who the F cares for some people, but just interested to hear people's thoughts.

I've posted this before, but after Iowa parted ways with Eno Benjamin that year, 2 of the first calls they made were to Jonathan Taylor and John Lovett, who were BOTH committed to Rutgers at the time. Taylor was just about to flip to the Badgers at the time, so things didn't get very far with him. Lovett took an official visit to Iowa, but ended up signing with Baylor. Later in that recruiting cycle, Iowa ended up adding Kyshaun Bryan, who has already left the program now.