The Salem, New Jersey, native — like Barkley — also committed early to Rutgers.

But Wisconsin, with a history of star tailbacks from New Jersey such as 1999 Heisman winner Ron Dayne and last year’s starter Corey Clement, persuaded Taylor to look at the Jersey-to-UW pipeline.

On the first day the Badgers could make a home visit to Taylor, he greeted the coaches wearing a Wisconsin T-shirt.

“So we knew we had a shot at him,” UW coach Paul Chryst said.

Just out of curiosity, Rutgers’ rushing numbers this season are 154 yards per game and nine touchdowns — identical to Taylor’s results by himself.

Runaway Badgers

Now that preseason Big Ten West favorite Wisconsin has clinched the division title by beating the two teams picked for second and third, Northwestern and Nebraska ...

Hey, good luck trying to talk me out of that assessment after some of the hide-your-eyes football in the West on Saturday.