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Florida got the state’s all-time leading prep rusher in the Sunshine State when Kelvin Taylor committed to the Gators last February.
Taylor flew under the radar on signing day today, but that’s because the nation’s top running back who reached the end zone more than 30 times as a senior, signed with the Gators Feb 18 of last year.
The son of former Florida and NFL running back, Fred Taylor, will assuredly be an instant starter for the Gators in 2013 after the departure of Mike Gillislee to the NFL, and he will be relied upon heavily with Jeff Driskel returning at quarterback.
The 5-11 216-pound back already has prototypical NFL size and should challenge for a 1,000 yard season as a true freshman and barring injury will follow in the footsteps of his father and parlay a successful college career into playing at the next level.
On the football field, Taylor is as close to a complete running back as you can get coming out of high school. He has incredible vision, awareness, the power to run through tackles and the speed to get to the edge and spring a four-yard run in to a 40-yard touchdown. Unlike many young running backs, Taylor doesn’t struggle in protection and being built like a linebacker has aided him in pass protection. A gifted receiver out of the backfield and a bit underrated in the aspect of his game, because of him elite run skills, but look for Taylor to catch around 35 balls a year next season.
What truly makes him special are his moves and his ability to make would-be tacklers miss. His jukes, cuts and to change direction quickly without slowing down are traits that you can’t coach and is something you’re born with.
The early signing will help the transition from high school to college and ensure that Taylor gets his growing pains out of the way during the Gators spring game and not in SEC play.
Follow me on Twitter @PatrickASchmidt
Patrick is the host of “The Wake-up Call,” on Sportstownchicago.com airing Wednesday mornings from 8-10. View his show’s website here.
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