Badgers’ Taylor, Cephus going pro

Updated: 4 p.m., 1/9

MADISON — After three remarkable and record-setting seasons, Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor elected to declare for the 2020 NFL Draft. Junior wide receiver Quintez Cephus and junior center Tyler Biadasz also declared for the draft.

Taylor announced his intentions in a video message via his Twitter and Instagram accounts: @JayT23 on Jan. 3. Cephus made the announcement Monday with a video posted to his Twitter and Instagram accounts: @QoDeep_87. Biadasz made the announcement on Wednesday with a video posted to his Twitter account: @TylerBiadasz.

Jonathan Taylor

A two-time Doak Walker Award winner and two-time unanimous first-team All-American, Taylor will go down as one of the greats to ever play the position. He finished his career with 6,174 rushing yards and 55 total touchdowns to highlight a collection of accomplishments and records almost too long to list.

“I’ve been able to live out a dream over the last three years by being a Badger, and now I’m excited to dive in and chase another dream of playing in the NFL,” Taylor said in his video. “I made it my goal to help raise the bar here, and thanks to my teammates, my coaches and everyone that supports us, I feel like we’ve been able to do that.

“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and I’ll cherish the bonds that we’ve built. We’re a family, and I’ll always be a Badger.”

“As impressive as JT’s accomplishments have been on the field, I have been even more impressed by how he has done it,” said UW head coach Paul Chryst. “He will rightly be discussed as one of the best running backs in college football history.

“But what I will remember most about being around him is how he handled himself and how much he cared about his teammates. He is truly humble, always working to get better and cares a ton about this program. He gave everything he had to maximize his opportunity in college, and I wish him all the best as he moves into the NFL.”

The first player in FBS history to rush for 6,000 yards in just three seasons, Taylor stands No. 6 all-time in rushing with his 6,174 career yards. That total represents the FBS record for most yards in a three-year span — by a margin of more than 500 yards over the second-place total.

Taylor finished his junior season with 2,003 rushing yards to become just the third player in FBS history with multiple 2,000-yard rushing seasons, joining Badgers legend Ron Dayne and Iowa State’s Troy Davis. Taylor is the only FBS player to record three consecutive seasons of 1,900-plus yards.

His combined 4,197 yards over his sophomore and junior seasons are the most by any player in a two-year span in FBS history, breaking the previous mark of fellow Badger Melvin Gordon (4,196, 2013-14).

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Some of the FBS records set by Taylor:

• Rushing yards by a freshman: 1,977

• Rushing yards by a sophomore: 2,194

• Rushing yards by a player through his sophomore season: 4,171

• Rushing yards by a player through his junior season: 6,174

• Rushing yards in any two-year span: 4,197

• Rushing yards in any three-year span: 6,174

Taylor also ranks No. 2 all-time in the FBS with his 12 career 200-yard games. Only Dayne (14) has recorded more. His 32 100-yard performances trail only Dayne (33) and Memphis’ DeAngelo Williams (34) among FBS players all-time.

His career average of 150.6 rushing yards per game ranks in a tie for No. 5 all-time in the FBS.

Taylor scored a nation-leading 26 touchdowns this season to match the third-highest single-season output in Big Ten history. He finishes his career ranked No. 2 in league history in rushing (6,174) and No. 6 in touchdowns scored (56).

Taylor finished in the top 10 of the Heisman Trophy voting in each of his three seasons, including a fifth-place finish this year, and is just the third player to be a repeat winner of the Doak Walker Award, joining Texas’ Ricky Williams (1997-98) and Arkansas’ Darren McFadden (2006-07).

He is the only player in UW history to twice be named a unanimous first-team All-American.

Quintez Cephus

Cephus departs Wisconsin after making 93 receptions for 1,496 yards and 13 touchdowns in three seasons with the Badgers.

“I’m excited to put my name in for the draft and to have a chance to play at the highest level,” Cephus said in his video. “I want to thank coach (Paul) Chryst and coach (Ted) Gilmore for everything they’ve done for me and for always having my back. They’ve helped me grow as a football player and as a man. The same for my teammates. Their support has meant everything. They’re brothers to me, and to be able to play this season with them and for them has been a blessing.”

“Q has meant a lot to this team,” Chryst said. “He is incredibly selfless and truly cares about all of his teammates. He has an infectious personality. He loves playing the game of football, and you can see that joy when he is on the field. I am excited for his future and wish him all the best as he takes this step.”

Returning to the field after not playing in 2018, Cephus made 59 catches for 901 yards and seven touchdowns this season, setting career highs and leading the Badgers in all three categories.

Tyler Biadasz

“Playing for the Badgers was always a dream for me, but the last three years have been more than a dream,” Biadasz said in his video. “I’ve been blessed to be part of this program and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. We’re a family and it’s hard to say goodbye to my teammates and coaches, but I’ll always be a Badger. Now I’m going to attack this opportunity to play in the NFL with everything I have.”

“Tyler has been a great leader for us. He truly epitomizes what it means to be a Badger,” Chryst said. “His toughness, work ethic and devotion to his teammates has led both to his individual success and our team success. He is an outstanding person and I wish him the best as he starts the next chapter of his career.”

A native of Amherst, Biadasz played in all 41 games over the last three seasons, starting at center in each.

Wisconsin’s first winner of the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s outstanding center, Biadasz this season became the 10th consensus All-America offensive lineman in school history, and the fifth to be named unanimous All-America, joining T Dan Lanphear (1959), T Chris McIntosh (1999), T Joe Thomas (2006) and T Gabe Carimi (2010).