Jonathan Taylor is a 3-year Featured Back for Wisconsin. Jonathan's 2019 season ranks in the 85th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 344 plays — a above-average rate for the RB. Jonathan's production has improved each season, a positive development trajectory.
Recruiting data from CFBD/247Sports composite. Sourced from the player's signing-class team — transfers show original school's class.
The centerpiece of the run game — high carry volume, used in early downs and goal-line, true workhorse role.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonard Fournette | LSU | 2015 | 321 | 0.390 | 7.2 | 125.2 |
| Jay Ajayi | Boise State | 2014 | 370 | 0.370 | 6.7 | 136.9 |
| Cameron Skattebo | Arizona State | 2024 | 309 | 0.410 | 6.2 | 126.7 |
| Jeremy Langford | Michigan State | 2014 | 297 | 0.400 | 6.4 | 118.8 |
| Chuba Hubbard | Oklahoma State | 2019 | 343 | 0.450 | 8.2 | 154.4 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Car | Rush Yds | Avg | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | @South Florida | W49-0 | -9.8 | 16 | 135 | 8.4 | 2 | 2 | 48 | 2 | 0.56 |
| 2 | vsCentral Michigan | W61-0 | -4.4 | 19 | 102 | 5.4 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
| Season | Team | Line value | WEPA/play | YoY Δ | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Wisconsin | 4.8 | 0.350 | — | 107.4 |
| 2018 | Wisconsin | 5 | 0.360 | +0.01 | 106.9 |
| 2019 | Wisconsin | 6.8 | 0.420 | +0.06 | 142.0 |
Chart shows per-game EPA (bars) and rolling 5-game average (line). Season breaks marked with dashed lines. Line value = est. points over replacement per game.
Car 21 · Rush Yds 94 · Avg 4.5 · Rush TD 0
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 17 |
| 1 |
| 0.39 |
| 4 | vsMichigan | W35-14 | 20.7 | 23 | 203 | 8.8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0.76 |
| 5 | vsNorthwestern | W24-15 | -5.5 | 26 | 119 | 4.6 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 0.03 |
| 6 | vsKent State | W48-0 | -10.2 | 19 | 186 | 9.8 | 4 | 3 | 29 | 1 | 0.84 |
| 7 | vsMichigan State | W38-0 | 7.2 | 26 | 80 | 3.1 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 0 | -0.03 |
| 8 | @Illinois | L23-24 | 0.6 | 28 | 132 | 4.7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -0.18 |
| 9 | @Ohio State | L7-38 | 35.4 | 20 | 52 | 2.6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | -0.19 |
| 11 | vsIowa | W24-22 | 16.7 | 31 | 250 | 8.1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0.44 |
| 12 | @Nebraska | W37-21 | 2.6 | 25 | 204 | 8.2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0.38 |
| 13 | vsPurdue | W45-24 | -0.7 | 28 | 222 | 7.9 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.03 |
| 14 | @Minnesota | W38-17 | 19.4 | 18 | 76 | 4.2 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 1 | 0.37 |
| 15 | vsOhio State | L21-34 | 35.4 | 20 | 148 | 7.4 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0.01 |
| 1 | vsOregon | L27-28 | 19.0 | 21 | 94 | 4.5 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 0 | -0.14 |
