The 17 most valuable Arizona Wildcats football players of 2017: No. 1

This is it – the long-awaited revelation of our pick for the most valuable Arizona Wildcats football player of 2017.

(You probably figured it out a while ago, but thanks for playing along!)

You can find links to all previous 16 entries at the bottom of this post.

But first, for the last time, two reminders:

“Most valuable” does not necessarily mean “best.” Rather, we’re defining it as the contributions and traits that most influence winning football. They include talent, leadership and projected role and production.

Newcomers were not eligible for the list. Although many might become major contributors this year, especially on defense, their roles are just too difficult to predict in June.

NO. 1: RB J.J. TAYLOR

Ht/Wt/Yr: 5-6, 170, redshirt freshman

Comment: Taylor has appeared in only four games. He has started only once. He is listed on the roster as a redshirt freshman, which in most cases means a player has yet to even make his college debut.

But in the minimal time he did play, Taylor flashed so much ability and promise that there simply was no other choice: The diminutive, dynamic tailback is the no-brainer pick for 2017 team MVP.

Taylor flashed through Tucson like a lightning storm last September. Replacing the injured Nick Wilson about midway through the first quarter of Game 3 against Hawaii, Taylor rushed for 168 yards on just 18 attempts. He made moves that appeared to defy physics (see second slide above).

Taylor came back the following week against a considerably tougher opponent in Washington. The Huskies couldn’t stop him either, yielding 97 yards on 19 carries through three quarters. On one run, Taylor made UW star safety Budda Baker look like an end-of-the-roster walk-on (see above). Baker ended up being the Cardinals’ second-round draft pick.

Unfortunately, near the end of the third quarter, Taylor’s brief, brilliant star turn came to an end. He got rolled up on a play that probably should have been whistled dead and suffered a season-ending broken left ankle.

A little over five months later, Taylor returned to the same Arizona Stadium turf and put on a show. Taylor dashed through the UA defense during an open scrimmage. It was as if he were moving at a different speed from everyone else. He said afterward that he felt only 80 percent recovered – a frightening thought for future Arizona foes.

Taylor enters the 2017 season with genuine superstar potential … assuming he stays healthy. Although the injury he suffered against the Huskies could be categorized as fluky, it’s fair to question Taylor’s durability simply because he hasn’t made it through a full college season.

But don’t make the mistake of diminishing his chances because of his size. As Mike Riley once said of former Oregon State tailback Jacquizz Rodgers, “He’s not small. He’s just short.” The same applies to Taylor.

When we last spoke to him in spring, Taylor had bulked up to 180 pounds. He looked sturdy and strong. Being short – which makes it easier to play low to the ground – actually can be advantageous for a running back.

Rodgers was listed at 5-7, 191. He starred in the Pac-12 and made it to the NFL. Likewise former UCLA standout Maurice Jones-Drew, who was listed at 5-8, 205. Darren Sproles – listed at 5-6, 190 – is still playing at age 34.

Arizona used Taylor only sparingly the first two games last season – the only time he and Wilson were healthy at the same time. It’s reasonable to assume they will split time this year, with Taylor getting more than a 50 percent share. Devising ways to feed him the ball 15-20 times per game has to be a priority for Rich Rodriguez and his staff.

Let’s say it’s the lower end, and Taylor averages 15 carries per game. Let’s also say he averages 6.0 yards per attempt, down about a yard from last year’s 6.9. That’d be 90 yards a game, or 1,080 over a 12-game season.

Taylor also should be a factor in the pass game (although the offense has gone away from throwing to backs in recent years) and could be one of the Wildcats’ kick returners as well. Something in the neighborhood of 1,500 all-purpose yards isn’t out of the question.

Over the past two seasons, no UA runner or receiver has come close to that mark. Even at 5-6, it’s well within Taylor’s reach.

THE 17 MOST VALUABLE WILDCATS OF 2017