How Avon graduate Isaac Guerendo learned to play running back from Jonathan Taylor

INDIANAPOLIS -- When Isaac Guerendo arrived to his first Wisconsin practice, he didn't know how to play the running back position that now defines his dreams.

But the Avon High School graduate had a teammate who knew a thing or two about it. His name was Jonathan Taylor.

"Not only was I making the transition to college but making the transition to running back as well," Guerendo said of that time. "(Taylor) was a guy who was willing to help out younger guys a lot in that situation. I think he saw it as an opportunity for him. If he could teach it to a younger guy, that was only going to help him as far as mastering it."

Guerendo spent his first two years of college buried on the Badgers depth chart, behind Taylor, who would go on to win a rushing title in Guerendo's hometown.

Those days, and Taylor's bell-cow dominance, started the circuitous path Guerendo has taken from Avon to Wisconsin to Louisville to an NFL Draft prospect six years later. They became front of mind Monday at the Colts' local pro day, which Guerendo attended, just 15 minutes northeast of his hometown of Clayton.

Guerendo met with Colts running backs coach DeAndre Smith but did not participate in any of the workouts or drills. He's instead resting on what he did at Lucas Oil Stadium in February, when he ran the fastest 40-yard dash time of any running back at 4.33 seconds.

It's the skill that brought him to Wisconsin from Avon, where as a senior he hauled in 54 catches for 1,258 yards and 16 touchdowns as Indiana's Mr. Football at wide receiver. He arrived as a three-star wide receiver who was built more like a running back. He made the switch to the Badgers' more storied position.

But the Badgers had a back who would command the rock for the next two years. From 2018-2019, during Guerendo's first two years on campus, Taylor saw more than 300 carries and topped 2,000 yards in each season. He scored 37 touchdowns and became an early second-round pick of the Colts, which was Guerendo's team growing up.

Guerendo could only watch on game days. In his two years with Taylor, Guerendo saw just 13 total carries.

But he spent every practice and film session with Taylor, taking notes on one of the best the Big Ten has ever seen. As his own body bulked up to a similar size, he took notes on what the ceiling for a running back can look like.

"His motor is crazy," Guerendo said of Taylor. "I think why I model myself after him is his combination of size and speed. That was kind of his thing, just how efficiently he moves, his ability to break tackles.

"A lot of those things mirror what I am -- a north-south, one-cut type of guy. Obviously, he was able to do those things so well. It was amazing to see."

Though their paths and production could not be more different, Taylor and Guerendo do flash some similar basic traits. Taylor measured 5-10, 226 pounds and ran a 4.39 40. Guerendo is 6-0, 221 pounds and ran a 4.33.

The problem for Guerendo is the Badgers didn't only have Taylor in the backfield. They also had Braelon Allen, who is one of the better running back prospects in this year's draft. Allen took the job by storm, leaving just 87 carries for 545 yards for Guerendo over the next two seasons.

Guerendo wanted that chance to become something more, so he transferred to Louisville. He saw 132 carries last season and turned them into 810 yards and 11 touchdowns to help lead the Cardinals to a surprise 10-4 season.

It was enough to get him invited to the combine. In front of around 20 family members and friends at Lucas Oil Stadium, he ripped off the fastest 40 time of any running back this year and tied for the fifth-fastest mark in combine history.

"Never being a feature guy is something I honestly like to use to my advantage," Guerendo said. "I might only have 250 career carries, but there are a lot of guys coming out who could have 400 to 600 career carries."

Production can be a detriment to a running back, he has since learned. That truth went on full display when he watched what Taylor went through to fight for a contract with the Colts before ultimately landing a rare multi-year deal.

Now, it's a space Guerendo is ready to enter.

"It's probably frustrating for most guys in our position, just with how the NFL has changed," Guerendo said. "It's making sure I add as much value as possible. There's not a lot of guys in the backfield who just run the ball, so I'm making sure I'm good running the ball, pass protecting, catching the ball out of the backfield, adding as much special teams value as possible."

Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Avon's Isaac Guerendo learned to play RB from Jonathan Taylor