Jonathan Taylor Relishes "College Track Experience" At Penn Relays

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

PHILADELPHIA – The top running back in college football was genuinely thrilled to be on the track Friday at the 125th Penn Relays, racing in the 4x100-meter relay for Wisconsin.

Jonathan Taylor, the 2018 Doak Walker Award winner and a likely Heisman Trophy candidate this fall, has rushed for 4,171 yards and scored 29 touchdowns in his two years of college football for the Badgers. 

In a light drizzle at Franklin Field, Taylor took the baton from Robert Hatch and ran the second leg for Wisconsin and held his ground before passing off to Ryan Dundun. Wisconsin ran 42.00 seconds, finishing 22nd out of 59 teams in the college men’s 4x100 heats.

“It’s my (college track) debut, I’ve got a lot of family and friends here. It was a lot of fun,” Taylor said.

It wasn’t Taylor’s first taste of Penn Relays.

He anchored the Salem High Rams to a heat victory in the 4x100 in 2017, when the team ran 42.41 seconds. He posted season’s best times of 10.49 in the 100 meters and 21.53 in the 200 meters.

Taylor went to Wisconsin intending to making a contribution to the track and field team, in addition to playing football.

“I definitely wanted to have a collegiate track experience, even if it was just one race,” he said.

Taylor said he is eager to help the track team this spring. He went through two weeks of practices in order to prepare for Friday’s race, which included practicing baton exchanges.

“I want to help out this team as much as possible,” Taylor said. “So anything they need me to do, I’m willing to go out there and give it my all.”