Taylor joins Hall

Jonathan Taylor, Salem’s record-setting running back and All-Pro, will be inducted into the Salem County Sports Hall of Fame July 20

By Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The banners recognizing Jonathan Taylor’s greatness are strategically located throughout Salem High School, but they’re soon going to need a rewrite. They’ll need to include the line “Salem County Sports Hall of Famer.”

Taylor, the Rams’ record-breaking running back, All-American and NFL All-Pro, headlines this year’s Hall of Fame class and will be inducted individually in ceremonies at Salem Community College’s Davidow Hall July 20.

The date coincides with Taylor’s appearance at his local football camp for youth. The remainder of the class and Hall honorees will be recognized Aug. 22.

The ceremony also will recognize Salem High School’s 2021 football championship team. That team won the Rams’ first New Jersey South-Central Group 1 championship.  

At Salem, Taylor rushed for 4,642 yards and 51 touchdowns that included the state’s single-season record with 2,510 yards and 35 TDs. He rushed for 1,383 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior. On the track, he won  back-to-back New Jersey Meet of Champions titles in 100 meters in 2016 and 2017.

Moving on to the college ranks, he appeared in 41 games at Wisconsin (40 starts from 2017-19) and totaled 926 carries for 6,174 yards and 50 touchdowns. He added 42 receptions for 407 yards and five touchdowns. He won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back in 2018 and 2019 and was a unanimous All-American. 

He is the seventh player in FBS history to rush for 6,000 yards and the first to accomplish the feat in just three seasons. His 6,174 career rushing yards rank sixth all-time among FBS players and second all-time in the Big Ten. He is the third player in FBS history with multiple 2,000-yard rushing seasons and the only player in FBS history to rush for at least 1,900 yards in three consecutive seasons.

Following his junior season at Wisconsin, the Colts selected Taylor in the second round (41st overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Pro Football Writers of America named Taylor to its All-Rookie Team after he rushed for 1,169 yards in 232 attempts and caught 36 passes for 299 yards. Then in 2021, he led the NFL in rushing with 1,811 yards in 332 attempts and rushing touchdowns with 18.  He also caught 40 passes for 360 yards. He was named first-time All Pro and received the Bert Bell Award, presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club to the best player in the NFL.

The remainder of the class that will inducted Aug. 22 includes pro athlete Lex Bleckley (baseball); athletes James Dickerson, Nick Elmer, James Dennison and Latika Ross; coaches Donna O’Leary and Steve Merritt; and community service honorees Vince Gioia and Steve Lopes. The Hall also will recognize the 2013-15 boys and girls track teams from Penns Grove.

The ceremony honoring Taylor will begin at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:30. The event is free. Due to limited seating in the theatre, the Field House will be open for overflow seating, where guests will watch the ceremony via livestream on the college’s website.Due to contractual obligations, Taylor will not sign autographs.