UW's Jonathan Taylor says he isn't bitter over lack of Heisman invitation and salutes the four finalists

MADISON – Sometime Saturday night, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is expected to claim the 2019 Heisman Trophy.

The other finalists – Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts and Ohio State defensive end Chase Young – have enjoyed outstanding seasons.

Yet Burrow, who set SEC single-season passing records for yards (4,715) and touchdowns (48) and has led the 13-0 Tigers to the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff, is expected to be the runaway winner.

How does UW tailback Jonathan Taylor, who has rushed for 1,909 yards and 21 touchdowns this season and enters the Rose Bowl with 6,080 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns, feel about not receiving an invitation to New York City?

“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Taylor said Friday night after finishing a marketing exam. “You look at the guys that went there. I’d pick to bring those guys to New York, too.

“That’s why we have voters so they can vote on the guys to bring there. I’m sure that it would be a great experience. Who wouldn’t like to go there?

“It is good that those guys got to go up there because they definitely deserved it.”

Taylor, who met with reporters before UW’s annual team banquet, did return to Madison with his second consecutive Doak Walker Award. That award is given annually to the top running back in the nation.

Taylor won out over J.K. Dobbins of Ohio State and Chuba Hubbard of Oklahoma State.

“It’s a blessing and an honor,” Taylor said. “You look at the guys I was up against. You look at the guys who weren’t even there, who are elite talents. To be mentioned as the best is a blessing.”

Taylor became the third two-time winner, joining Ricky Williams of Texas in 1997 and ’98 and Darren McFadden of Arkansas in 2006 and ’07.

Taylor sounded as if he had more fun watching teammate Tyler Biadasz win the Rimington Trophy, given annually to the best center in the nation.

“That was awesome having him there with me and being able to bring home some hardware,” Taylor said. “It’s always a good day when you can go 2 for 2.”

Biadasz, the first UW player to win the Rimington Trophy, made it clear he believes his teammate deserved a Heisman invite.

“I was surprised,” he said. “I wasn’t happy. To be with Jonathan the whole way through the last three years, and not getting an invite to New York, it has been tough to swallow.”

Why?

Because Taylor averaged 6.6 yards per carry and finished with 1,977 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman and wasn’t invited to New York.

Because Taylor averaged 7.1 yards per carry and finished with a nation-leading 2,194 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore and wasn’t invited to New York.

Because Taylor this season became the No. 2 rusher in Big Ten history (6,080 yards), trailing only Ron Dayne of UW (7,125 yards in four seasons) and became only the seventh FBS player to reach the 6,000-yard mark.

“Those other guys that are there,” Biadasz said, “very deserving. But he is always on the short end of the stick, which kind of sucks.

“He definitely deserved to be there.”

Told of Biadasz’s comments, Taylor smiled.

“I think Tyler would have a little bias, him being my center,” he said. “There are definitely some people upset, but once you start talking to them and say: ‘If you really take a step back and look at the guys who are there, they definitely deserve to be there. They had a heck of a year.’”

Extra points

Redshirt sophomore Kayden Lyles, who started at left guard in the Big Ten title game, was on crutches Friday night...

UW secured an oral commitment for its 2021 class from inside linebacker Bryan Sanborn, from Lake Zurich (Ill.). Sanborn is the brother of current UW linebacker Jack Sanborn. Bryan Sanborn is the sixth known commitment for the 2021 class. He reportedly had offers from Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Iowa State, Cincinnati, Virginia and Vanderbilt.