Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor needs four yards to reach 5,000 in his career. Against Illinois on Saturday he should get that, and much, much more.
Illinois is ranked 107th out of 130 teams in rushing defense. The Fighting Illini are giving up an average 201.8 yards per game. Conversely, Taylor is averaging 137.5 yards per game. He also has 18 touchdowns, 14 rushing, four receiving, which is tops in college football.
Illinois will try and stop Taylor, but they probably won’t have much success. Last week’s opponent, Michigan State, is No. 33 in the country in rushing defense, and Taylor still managed to gain 80 yards. He added two touchdowns in the No. 6 Badgers’ 38-0 victory.
No Answer for Jonathan Taylor
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said he knows teams are zeroing in on his junior running back, but so far few have had any success.
“It’s no secret that everyone … the plan is going to be how do you stop ‘JT,’ or minimize him, right?” Chryst said. “You know that going in. For us to be the best offense we can be, we’ve got to be able to move the ball a number of different ways.”
Which they have done. The Badgers are No. 38th in the country in total offense, averaging 447 yards per game. They are favored on the road against Illinois by 31 points.
Swinney Gives Clemson Kicker Boot
Just about everything went right in Clemson’s 45-14 victory over Florida State last Saturday. Almost everything. Sophomore kicker B.T. Potter missed a 24-yard attempt, and Tiger coach Dabo Swinney was waiting when Potter came off the field.
In front of a national television audience, Swinney lit into Potter for around 30 seconds. He then benched his player, and replaced him with Steven Sawicki. After the game, Swinney told reporters that Potter was benched.
“Yeah, he’s second team. I mean that’s just the way it is. I mean everybody’s got a job to do,†Swinney said of Potter. “He’s just missed two easy ones in a row. It’s not like we’re out there kicking 50-yarders. He’s missed two easy layups in a row. And you’ve gotta make your layups. If you don’t make your layups you’ve gotta give someone else an opportunity.â€
On Tuesday Swinney softened a bit, announcing that he would be using the two kickers in specific situations. Potter would be handling kickoffs and long field goals, while Sawicki will be brought in for shorter attempts.
LSU Bomb Threat Over “Big Betâ€
When Alabama freshman student Connor Bruce Croll called in a bomb threat during last weekend’s LSU-Florida game, it wasn’t because he was pulling a stupid prank.
Croll, 19, confessed to making the bomb threat, and reportedly told police, it was because, “his friend was on the verge of losing a large bet.”
Croll is being held in a Tuscaloosa jail without bond, and is expected to face charges in Baton Rouge.