Arizona Wildcat RB J.J. Taylor Interviews About The Upcoming Season & More

[WILD]

Arizona Wildcat Running Back J.J. Taylor who's gained 20LB of Muscle, Interviews & Talks About The Upcoming Season.

Interviews by Front Rowsports & Brad Allis

J.J. Taylor doing intense running back drills.

From the moment he arrived at Arizona last year, coaches marveled at tailback J.J. Taylor's maturity. Never did it shine brighter than during his darkest moment.

In his second game as Arizona's featured back – a second consecutive performance in which Taylor looked like a budding star — he suffered a season-ending broken ankle.

Was the freshman from Corona, California, upset about it? Of course. Just as his season was getting started, it quickly came to a painful conclusion.

But Taylor didn't let it linger. He spoke to family members and other confidantes who assured him he could put a positive spin on his predicament.

Eight games remained in Arizona's 2016
season. He would use that time to get a head start on 2017 in the weight room and playbook.

"It was disappointing while the game was going on," Taylor said of that Sept. 24 game against Washington at Arizona Stadium.

"But afterwards, after talking to my parents and talking to other people, they gave me words of wisdom. ... Everything happens for a reason."

Although he's being eased back into practice this spring, Taylor appears to have added muscle to his 5-foot-6, 170-pound frame. Although Taylor says he's only about 80 percent of his usual self, running backs coach Calvin Magee says Taylor looks quicker than before his injury.

No time is a good time to break a bone, but the timing of Taylor's injury was especially cruel. He had rushed for 168 yards the previous week against Hawaii, displaying moves straight out of "Madden." He had 97 yards in about three quarters against Washington, which eventually reached the College Football Playoff.

"It was devastating," Magee said. "J.J. was bringing energy and a different style coming out of the backfield. He was just starting to learn more. I think he would have gotten even better."

He still has time. Arizona has every reason to believe Taylor will be a prominent part of the backfield next season, along with freshman Nathan Tilford, senior Zach Green and an also on-the-mend Nick Wilson.

As Taylor put it: "I don't like to think that there's anything I can't do."

Taylor isn't doing as much on the field right now, but he's doing more off it. Taylor is serving as a mentor to Tilford, another veteran move by a student-athlete who's still in his first year of college.

"After practice, he'll come to my room and ask me questions," Taylor said. "I'll instruct him, just like Nick or Zach would have done for me last year."



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[GoCatZ]

Calling it now... He will be a Future starting NFL running back!