2020 NFL Draft Central - Check out Draft Central presented by Rosen Nissan
Zack Baun hugs his family after hearing his NFL draft announcement

Lucas: Virtual draft leads to real opportunity for five Badgers

Biadasz can follow footsteps of UW great Frederick in Dallas, Cephus and Orr also find NFL homes

Whether it was New England's Bill Belichick feeding a treat to his dog or Green Bay's Matt LaFleur engaging his two young sons, Luke and Ty, between picks — an oft-repeated scene between head coaches and general managers and their children — the virtual 2020 NFL Draft was more humanizing than virtually any ever held.

Aside from grandiose scenes of Arizona's Kliff Kingsbury in his $4.5 million mansion or Dallas owner Jerry Jones on his $240 million yacht, it was refreshing and comforting seeing so many influential decision-makers working out of their offices or rec rooms, including commissioner Roger Goodell kicking back in his basement or Kansas City's Andy Reid sporting his Tommy Bahama shirts.

"It was different not being with all the guys in the (draft) room and the comradery of it, but we kept it pretty loose on our Zoom call," conceded Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard, 50, who attended the UW on a football scholarship in the late '80s (under Don Morton) and early '90s (under Barry Alvarez), but had his football career cut short by knee injuries.

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screenshot of ABC broadcast of Jonathan Taylor and family during NFL draft

Lucas: NFL Draft dreams fulfilled for Taylor and Baun

Colts, Saints each trade up to snag All-Americans from Wisconsin

After the 18-year-old tailback, still an unknown in training camp, took the short pass and accelerated through the No. 1 defense on his way to a score in a preseason scrimmage at Camp Randall Stadium, you knew, right then, that Jonathan Taylor was special. Or had special talent.

UW director of athletics Barry Alvarez was watching from the sidelines on that August night in 2017.

"And I was thinking, 'Oh, man, that's a freshman?'"

Forty games later — in what would be Taylor's penultimate appearance in his No. 23 jersey — Alvarez recalled how the All-America running back responded to an elite defense by noting, "When you look at him in that Big Ten Championship Game against Ohio State, that was really impressive." 

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Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor (23) carries the ball during an NCAA college football game against the Purdue Boilermakers Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Madison, Wis. The Badgers won 45-24. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)

Lucas at Large: What makes Jonathan Taylor unique?

His coach’s assessment to NFL teams goes beyond the history-making stats

Suppose you're a pro scout, offensive coordinator, head coach, personnel director, general manager, or owner. What would you like to know about Jonathan Taylor that you don't already know? 

What do you NEED to know prior to Thursday and the start of the National Football League draft?

The numbers are the numbers. They speak for themselves. No other tailback in FBS history — not Herschel Walker, not Ron Dayne, not LaMichael James — has ever rushed for more yardage through their junior season than Taylor, a back-to-back Doak Walker Award winner.

But what are Taylor's selling points beyond the raw numbers (926 carries, 6,174 yards, 6.7 yards per rush, 50 touchdowns)? Anybody can Google his college statistics or bio and see that he ran for over 200 yards 12 times, two shy of Dayne, the all-time leader in that category. What really stands out about his game, though?

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Football coach John Settle at practice coaching Jonathan Taylor (23) and Badgers
Jonathan Taylor high fives fans making his way up the tunnel following the Badgers' win over Michigan
Wisconsin Badgers' running back Jonathan Taylor (23) runs the ball during the 2020 Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against the Oregon Ducks Wednesday January 1, 2020 in Pasadena, California.Photo by Tom Lynn/Wisconsin Athletic Communications
Jonathan Taylor vs. Kent State - 2019
Wisconsin Badgers teammates Zack Baun (56) and Chris Orr (54) lead the team onto the field during an NCAA Big Ten Conference college football game against the Michigan State Spartans Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Madison, Wis. The Badgers won 38-0. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)

Lucas: What lies ahead for Baun and Orr in NFL draft?

Linebackers have performed admirably in pre-draft prep. Now they await their professional fates …

In the days, weeks, months leading up to the NFL draft, an anxiety-filled evaluation process compromised by the coronavirus, Wisconsin linebackers Zack Baun and Chris Orr have been staying in touch and comparing notes from different parts of the country.

Baun, for the most part, has been living in his an off-campus Madison apartment with the exception of Arizona training sessions prior to the Combine earlier this spring. Orr has moved back home — DeSoto, Texas — to be with family (mom, dad, two brothers, a nephew and Duke, a bulldog puppy).

While attacking offenses from different angles — Baun off the edge and Orr up the middle — they bonded as teammates and friends the last five years. "I don't have enough words to describe Chris and my relationship with him," Baun said. "And it has been so strong throughout this whole process." 

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Wisconsin Badgers reporter Chris Hall, left, interviews linebacker Chris Orr (54) and Zack Baun (56) after an NCAA college football game against the Purdue Boilermakers Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Madison, Wis. The Badgers won 45-24. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)
Wisconsin Badgers linebackers Chris Orr (54) and Zack Baun (56) tackle Iowa Hawkeyes running back Toren Young (28) during an NCAA Big Ten Conference college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Madison, Wis. The Badgers won 24-22. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)
Chris Orr and Zack Baun hold the Heartland Trophy - vs. Iowa 2019
Tyler Biadasz talking to media at 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

Lucas: Connections and creativity helping Biadasz adapt draft prep

All-America center stuck far from home as he prepares for NFL future

Tyler Biadasz was a long way from home; a long way from his family in Stockton, Wisconsin; a long way from his mom Lori, his dad David and his brother Joe.

Biadasz, the unanimous first-team All-America center, was a half-country away from home, a little over 2,000 miles from Portage County where he grew up (Stockton) and went to high school (Amherst).

Speaking from the Proactive Sports Performance facility in Orange County, California — where he has been training and rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery — he sounded a little homesick.

But it runs much deeper for Biadasz and everybody else who has been "adapting" — his own word — to a different world and new guidelines and rules since the outbreak of the coronavirus. 

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Tyler Biadasz
Wisconsin Badgers Tyler Biadasz celebrate with the Paul Bunyan Axe after an NCAA Big Ten Conference college football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Minneapolis. The Badgers won 38-17. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)
Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz (61) is greeted by fans as the team walks to the stadium before the game against Nebraska. The Wisconsin Badgers host Nebraska at Camp Randall Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Madison Wisconsin.Photo by Tom Lynn/Wisconsin Athletic Communications
Tyler Biadasz lifts teammate Jonathan Taylor to celebrate a touchdown against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Friday, August 31, 2018, in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers won 34-3. (Photo by David Stluka)
Behind the Badgers Podcast headline image - Vince Biegel

Behind the Badgers Podcast: Vince Biegel relives Draft Day and life in the NFL

With Draft Day arriving for Wisconsin's latest batch of prospective pros, Vince Biegel joins Brian and Patrick to recall his own path to the draft and catch us up on a year that saw him find his footing as an NFL starter with the Miami Dolphins – while also becoming a father. Vince gives his thoughts on the Badgers' recent run of NFL linebackers and lets us know about the interesting training partner he's teamed up with while working to stay in shape at his family's cranberry marsh back home in Wisconsin Rapids. Plus a breakdown of UW's draft prospects and a look at more Badgers doing good work for others in a time of need.

Links to Listen - https://linktr.ee/behindthebadgers - or Download below.

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Articles: Mike Lucas
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer 

Photos: David Stluka, Tom Lynn, Kelli Steffes