J.J. Taylor is a Featured Back for Arizona. J.J.'s 2018 season ranks in the 0th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 194 plays — a developing rate for the RB.
The centerpiece of the run game — high carry volume, used in early downs and goal-line, true workhorse role.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saquon Barkley | Penn State | 2016 | 288 | 0.340 | 3.9 | 97.9 |
| Dalvin Cook | Florida State | 2016 | 292 | 0.340 | 4.3 | 99.3 |
| Breece Hall | Iowa State | 2020 | 301 | 0.340 | 4.5 | 102.3 |
| Eno Benjamin | Arizona State | 2018 | 316 | 0.330 | 4.6 | 104.3 |
| Hassan Haskins | Michigan | 2021 | 280 | 0.380 | 4.8 | 106.4 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Car | Rush Yds | Avg | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vsBYU | L23-28 | 6.2 | 18 | 85 | 4.7 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 0.16 |
| 2 | @Houston | L18-45 | 2.3 | 18 | 54 | 3.0 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.17 |
| 3 | vsSouthern Utah | W62-31 | — | 8 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Car 28 · Rush Yds 144 · Avg 5.1 · Rush TD 0
| 54 |
| 6.8 |
| 0 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| -0.25 |
| 4 | @Oregon State | W35-14 | -16.0 | 27 | 284 | 10.5 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.73 |
| 5 | vsUSC | L20-24 | 9.7 | 18 | 50 | 2.8 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 0 | — |
| 6 | vsCalifornia | W24-17 | 3.9 | 15 | 73 | 4.9 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | -0.04 |
| 7 | @Utah | L10-42 | 16.8 | 13 | 61 | 4.7 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | -0.02 |
| 8 | @UCLA | L30-31 | -0.4 | 19 | 154 | 8.1 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0.15 |
| 9 | vsOregon | W44-15 | 7.3 | 30 | 212 | 7.1 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 0 | — |
| 10 | vsColorado | W42-34 | -0.7 | 40 | 192 | 4.8 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0.18 |
| 12 | @Washington State | L28-69 | 11.3 | 20 | 69 | 3.5 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.04 |
| 13 | vsArizona State | L40-41 | 5.0 | 28 | 144 | 5.1 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 0.18 |
