Badger of Honor
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Wisconsin Football: Top 3 performers vs. Western Kentucky

By Sam Land

MADISON, WI - AUGUST 31: Garrett Groshek #37, Alex Hornibrook #12, and A.J. Taylor #4 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrate after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Camp Randall Stadium on August 31, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - AUGUST 31: Garrett Groshek #37, Alex Hornibrook #12, and A.J. Taylor #4 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrate after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Camp Randall Stadium on August 31, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin Football- Jonathan Taylor
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

#1 – Jonathan Taylor, Running Back

No surprise here.

Jonathan Taylor was unquestionably the brightest star for the Badgers against Western Kentucky, picking up right where he left off last season and kicking off his Heisman Trophy campaign in earnest.

The Wisconsin offense that has been talked about as the best in program history looked ugly to start the game and ended up punting on its first drive. On its next possession, however, Taylor brought Camp Randall to a roar with this thrilling 47-yard score, the first of the season for the Badgers.

Taylor followed up that score with a 30-yard dash to the end zone in the second quarter that put the Badgers up 17-0 on the Hilltoppers.

Taylor finished the game with 18 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 8.1 yards per carry.

There was but one blemish on his dominating performance, but it is not one to be taken lightly.

In the third quarter, the Wisconsin offense was operating deep within its own territory when Taylor had the ball poked out of his arms by a Western Kentucky defender for a fumble, which the Hilltoppers recovered with a big chance to put points on the board.

This mistake is a bit concerning, as sharpening up his ball-security skills was one of Taylor’s primary focuses of preseason practices following the difficulties he had with fumbling last year. This is the most glaring hole in his game, and if Wisconsin is to reach the College Football Playoff it cannot afford to have Taylor coughing up the football and setting opponents up for easy scores. Against a foe such as Ohio State or Penn State, such a mistake could very well mean the difference between a win and a loss.

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Other than that one mishap, Taylor was outstanding and looked every bit the part of one of the nation’s best players and a Heisman front-runner. Some were concerned that a possible sophomore slump could be coming, but it does not appear that is going to be the case. His performance against Western Kentucky looks like it could be the opening act of another special season.