Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor on Saturday became the third player in FBS history to officially record 5,000 rushing yards prior to the end of his junior season.
Taylor joined Hershel Walker (Georgia) and LaMichael James (Oregon) in the exclusive club after he eclipsed the mark with a 16-yard run on his first play from scrimmage against Illinois.
Former Wisconsin star Ron Dayne also would be in that exclusive club, however the NCAA did not recognize statistics in bowl games prior to 2002.
Taylor, who won the 2018 Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back, entered Saturday’s game needing just four yards to reach 5,000.
Taylor became the fastest player to reach 5,000 yards, doing so on 736 carries. James had been the quickest to accomplish the feat, doing so on 755 carries. However, Walker accomplished the feat in just 33 games, running for 5,259 yards on 994 carries. Saturday marked Taylor’s 34th game.
— Field Level Media
