Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor believes he's the best RB in the NFL draft

Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor sat down with Yahoo Sports’ Tank Williams at the NFL combine in Indianapolis to discuss his career at Wisconsin and why he believes teams should draft him early.

Video Transcript

[CHEERING]

- Tank Williams here at the 2020 NFL Combine with Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor. You had a really successful career. I mean, you finished in the Heisman voting like, top 10 three years, Doak Walker Award for like 2 years straight. So tell me, like, why did you come out now as a junior? Is it just kind to limit the banging and bruising on your body?

- Yeah, I really think it was that time, especially after this year. Coach Chris did a great job of putting me in space and showcasing my ability to catch the ball. That was kind of the next step for me. I've shown that, you know, I can run the ball effectively and consistently. And then it was just about putting on tape that, hey, this guy play in third down. He can stay on the field every single play.

TANK WILLIAMS: Yeah, and I know your mindset. I mean, for you to put up the records and the accolades that you received throughout your career-- like, do you feel like you're the best back in this draft and that you should go high? Because we've seen, like in some drafts, they'll pick running backs high. And then a lot of times they kind of sleep on the backs, and they go a little bit lower. Like, how-- what do you feel about your skill set and where you should be placed in this draft?

- Yeah, I definitely feel like I'm a high draft pick. One of the reasons why is, is the consistency. I know that at the next level what separates the great backs, from the elite backs, to the legendary backs are being able to play at that high level consistently every single Sunday, every single year. And I feel like that's one thing I focused on a lot in college is being consistent.

- All right. And tell me. Like, is there one player that's currently in the NFL that you modeled your game after that kind of reminds you of yourself?

- So growing up, one of the best running backs that I watched that I loved was Arian Foster.

- Yeah?

- Hence, the reason why I got number 23. He was so smooth for his size. So that's how I tried to model my game after, after I was on the field.

- Well, it was a pleasure watching you in college because-- actually, when I was in college I played against Ron Dayne. So that was another guy who, you're, you're eating at his record's, dog. I mean, if you stay another year, you probably would have had all of that. But it was a pleasure watching you. Good luck in this draft process and looking forward to seeing you on Sundays.

- Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.