J'Mari Taylor

NFL Draft Profile: J'Mari Taylor

Position: Running Back | School: Virginia (via NC Central) | Class: Graduate Student

Height: 5'9" | Weight: 204 lbs | Archetype: 3-Down Back / Elusive

College Career Summary

J'Mari Taylor's story is one of the most remarkable "climbs" in college football. He began his career as a walk-on at North Carolina Central (FCS), eventually earning a scholarship and exploding for over 1,100 yards in 2024. Seeking to prove himself at the highest level, he transferred to Virginia for the 2025 season.

At UVA, Taylor didn't just compete; he dominated. He finished the regular season as the ACC's leading rusher, a First-Team All-ACC selection, and the engine of a program-record 11-win season. Known for a "low-to-the-ground" running style and a heavy workload, Taylor became a fan favorite in Charlottesville for his ability to transform broken plays into first downs. He chose to skip the Gator Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft after a grueling 222-carry regular season.

2025 Regular Season Stats

• Rushing: 222 Carries, 1,062 Yds, 14 TD (4.8 avg)

• Receiving: 43 Receptions, 253 Yds, 1 TD

• Passing: 1/1, 1 Yd, 1 TD (100% Comp)

• All-Purpose: 1,335 Total Yards

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Stats (Rush/Yds/TD)	Rec (Yds/TD)	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs Coast. Car.	10/32/2	3/4/0	B-	Short-yardage specialist role; found the end zone twice.
2	@ NC State	17/150/3	2/13/0	A+	Breakout. Shredded an ACC front with elite 8.8 YPC.
3	vs W&M	6/31/1	0/0/0	B	Limited snaps in a blowout; stayed efficient.
4	vs Stanford	15/85/0	3/27/0	B+	Workhorse volume; vital in the intermediate pass game.
5	vs Florida St	27/99/1	3/16/0	A-	Bell-Cow. Carried the offense through a physical war.
6	@ Louisville	16/68/1	6/29/0	B	Impact as a check-down target was the difference.
7	vs Wash. St	17/47/0	2/13/0	C+	Stifled by a fast front; uncharacteristically low average.
8	@ UNC	21/69/1	4/11/0	B-	Volume-based production; ground out tough yards late.
9	@ Cal	21/105/2	4/17/0	A	Dynamic in the red zone; two crucial scoring drives.
10	vs Wake Forest	19/98/0	7/30/0	A-	Career high in catches; the ultimate safety valve.
11	@ Duke	18/133/2	1/25/0	A+	Season Peak. Pure dominance in a major rivalry win.
12	vs VA Tech	20/80/1	4/34/0	B+	Sealed the 11th win; high-level ball security in traffic.
CC	vs Duke	15/65/0	4/34/1	B	ACC Title game; scored through the air but ground game was tight.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 98/100

• Leadership: A self-made captain. His transition from walk-on to ACC leader is a testament to his locker-room influence.

• Mental Toughness: Thrives in high-pressure "must-have" yardage situations.

• Competitor: Described as "ultra-competitive" by coaches; plays every snap like he's still a walk-on.

• Star Power: The focal point of Virginia’s 20th-ranked offense.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 82/100

• Height/Weight: 5'9", 204 lbs. (Below the 5'10" and 215 lb targets).

• Stamina: High; averaged over 17 carries per game in a Power-4 conference.

• Durability: Generally healthy, though Coach Elliott noted he played "banged up" through the November stretch.

• Injury History: Medically clean; no major missed time in his career.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 91/100

• Ball Security: Excellent. Only 1 lost fumble on 265+ touches in 2025.

• Vision: Elite. Navigates trash at the line of scrimmage with natural instinct.

• Contact Balance: High-end. His compact frame allows him to bounce off arm tackles.

• Catching: Natural hands; 43 catches in 2025 make him a legitimate 3-down threat.

• Pass Block: High effort; technically sound but can be overwhelmed by NFL-sized blitzers.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 89/100

• Speed: Functional home-run speed; clocked a 78-yard long in 2025.

• Agility: Strength. Leaves defenders "grasping at air" in the open field.

• Change of Direction: Explosive. Can plant and cut without decelerating.

• Acceleration: Sudden; reaches top speed quickly after the initial plant.

• Break Tackle: Uses lateral twitch and a low center of gravity to slip tackles.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 95/100

• Awareness: High. Understands leverage and knows how to set up his blocks.

NFL Scouting Report

• Strengths: Elite production in a Power-4 conference; exceptional pass-catching floor; pro-ready vision; ultra-competitive walk-on mentality; high-volume durability.

• Weaknesses: Undersized by traditional NFL standards; lacks the "trucking" power to run through interior NFL defensive tackles; slightly older prospect as a graduate student.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for a Zone-Run or West Coast system that uses RBs heavily in the flat (e.g., Dolphins, Lions, 49ers).

• NFL Comparison: Kyren Williams (Rams) / Devin Singletary.

Scout's Final Word

"J'Mari Taylor is a 'winning' football player. He may lack the 220-lb frame scouts drool over, but his tape against NC State and Duke is undeniable. He is a safety valve for his QB and a nightmare for linebackers in space. If you want a guy who will catch 50 balls and pick up the tough 3rd-and-2, Taylor is your man. Projected: Round 3–4."