Salem's own, running back Jonathan Taylor was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin by the Indianapolis Colts. 

The Colts were forced early in the second round to trade up to make sure they got their guy.

Taylor's coach at Salem High School, Montrey Wright, was there when he got the call.

“Just to be a part of that and witness that and see everything that happened when he got the phone call was just mind blowing, and I was extremely happy for him,” says Wright.

Taylor's impact is still being felt in New Jersey high school football. As a senior, he set the single-season rushing record with more than 2,800 yards.

“Jonathan was ahead of his time in high school, and it made everything that much easier for me as a head coach,” says Wright. “He was like another coach on the field for me.”

The accolades continued at Wisconsin. Taylor is a two-time Doak Walker Award winner for the country's best running back, and ranks sixth all-time among FBS players with nearly 6,200 career rushing yards.

“He's going to keep going, I have no doubt in my mind he's going to have a great pro career,” says Wright.

Salem Athletic Director Darryl Roberts says Taylor's success isn't just a big deal for football fans, but for the Salem community as a whole.

“Obviously it's a poor community, we have issues within the community as far as poverty and violence and different things like that, but it helps bring the community together, give them something to really cheer for and give the younger kids something to aspire to,” says Roberts.

When Taylor set the state single-season rushing record in high school, he surpassed another future Wisconsin Badger on the all-time list, Super Bowl LII champion, and Glassboro native, Corey Clement.