Darius Taylor
Minnesota#194 overallDraft Movement
Down 24 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Darius Taylor has the most complete three-down toolkit in his tier, and the least reliable availability. Out of Walled Lake Western in Michigan he rushed for 2,450 yards and 36 touchdowns as a senior, including a 438-yard game against Milford. As a true freshman at Minnesota in 2023 he averaged 133.2 rushing yards per game across six appearances and took Quick Lane Bowl MVP honors with 208 yards against Bowling Green, then caught 54 passes while totaling 12 touchdowns in 2024. Soft-tissue injuries interrupted 2025. He opened with 141 rushing yards against Buffalo, a hamstring suffered against Northwestern State cost him the California and Rutgers games, and he later exited the Iowa game after one carry. He finished with 670 yards and four touchdowns on 143 carries across 10 games, adding 34 receptions for 245 yards. He ran for 148 and a score against Nebraska and closed with 116 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries in Minnesota's overtime Rate Bowl win over New Mexico. The receiving tape is among the best of any back in this group and the pass protection actually clears the NFL line, which is the rarest skill at the position. The problems are the medical and the ground game. Two consecutive shortened seasons leave the durability file unresolved, the rushing tape is ordinary with 13 explosive runs on 143 carries, and average timed speed sits underneath it.
Strengths
- Thirty-four catches with receiving tape among the best backs in this group
- pass protection tape that clears the NFL line, the rarest skill at the position
- closed the season with 116 yards and a score in an overtime bowl win
- hammered Nebraska for 148 and Buffalo for 141 in feature outings
- averaged 133.2 rushing yards per game as a true freshman across six appearances
- Quick Lane Bowl MVP with 208 yards against Bowling Green
- 54 receptions and 12 total touchdowns in 2024
- the offense ran through him in every phase when healthy
Weaknesses
- Hamstring and assorted injuries have now shortened two consecutive seasons
- ordinary ground tape with 13 explosive runs on 143 carries
- four drops dent an otherwise strong receiving file
- average timed speed without the burst his role implies
- 670 rushing yards is thin for a lead back
- exited the Iowa game after one carry, another entry in the medical file
- the durability question is unresolved heading into 2026
NFL Comparison
Tyrone Tracy Jr. passing-down readiness as the calling card; Kenneth Gainwell third-down specialist floor; Zach Charbonnet complete toolkit without breakaway speed
College Stats
2023 (Fr): 6 G, 133.2 rush yds per game, Quick Lane Bowl MVP with 208 yds vs Bowling Green; 2024 (So): 54 rec, 12 total TD; 2025 (Jr): 10 G, 143 car, 670 rush yds, 4 TD, 34 rec, 245 rec yds, 4 drops; 148 yds vs Nebraska, 141 vs Buffalo, 116 and a score in the Rate Bowl
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $534K on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and Minnesota's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
Every P4 player priced, math public: College players & NIL · Roster spend
Measurables
Awards & Honors
Quick Lane Bowl MVP as a true freshman; part of Minnesota's seventh consecutive bowl win under P.J. Fleck; 36 rushing touchdowns as a high school senior