In 2015, the Gators’ running game was all Kelvin Taylor all the time. Whether it was 1st-and-10 or 3rd-and-3, Florida generally threw … or put it in Taylor’s belly.

Even as Florida’s workhorse back, he didn’t cut much of a highlight tape in terms of breakaway runs or jaw-dropping jukes. Taylor logged 259 carries for 1,035 yards. Averaged out over 14 games, that comes to about 19 carries a game for 74 yards. Those kinds of performances don’t get much attention in a conference with Derrick Henry, Leonard Fournette, Nick Chubb, Alex Collins and Jalen Hurd.

Taylor might have stood out playing behind an offensive line with more size, more experience, or ideally, both. It’s hard not to feel bad for the former five-star recruit and son of Gator great Fred Taylor. In his one season as the feature back, his offensive line was a makeshift unit that included true freshmen, converted defensive players and an undersized FCS transfer.

Instead of returning for a fourth year, Taylor entered the NFL Draft and is now a San Francisco 49er. The two running backs who played second fiddle to Taylor, Jordan Cronkrite and Jordan Scarlett, combined for less than 25 percent of Taylor’s carries. They will be expected to get more touches in 2016, but there’s a new ball-carrier joining the backfield — JUCO standout Mark Thompson (pictured).

Apr 8, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Mark Thompson (24) runs in the third quarter during the Orange and Blue game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Blue won 38-6. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Thompson (6-foot-2, 242 pounds) enrolled at Florida in the spring and, based primarily on his size, immediately drew comparisons to Henry (6-foot-3, 247 pounds), last year’s Heisman Trophy winner. The Gators aren’t expecting Henry-like numbers from Thompson, but it should help to have a bona fide big back who can power his way through the line in short-yardage situations.

Rushing yards per game (SEC rank): 126.9 (13)
TDs: 19 (10)

Rotation

This season, the Gators will likely employ the committee approach. Thompson, Cronkrite and Scarlett should all get carries for at least the first three quarters. There’s some speculation McElwain may ride the “hot hand” in the fourth quarter, but even if that is Cronkrite or Scarlett (pictured), it’s hard to imagine he doesn’t don’t send in Thompson on short yardage situations.

Nov 7, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Jordan Scarlett (25) runs with the ball against Vanderbilt Commodores cornerback Taurean Ferguson (3) during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Cronkrite and Scarlett will likely be used in many of the same situations, and that should help to keep both fresh. As a recruit, Cronkrite (below) was listed as an “athlete” and his versatility was evident in the passing game, particularly with his 41-yard touchdown reception against South Carolina.

Nov 14, 2015; Columbia, SC, USA; Florida Gators running back Jordan Cronkrite (32) looks for yardage against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Scarlett was the more hyped signee, even drawing some comparisons to FSU RB Dalvin Cook, but he finished with a relatively uneventful freshman campaign.

The Gators used Scarlett as the scout version of Fournette, and that reportedly led to a boost in confidence that the coaches hoped would lead to a similar boost in production. He had a 96-yard game against Georgia, but disappeared from the box scores as the 2015 season reached its end.

If the main three fail to get it done, McElwain could turn to redshirt senior Mark Herndon, a former walk-on, or Lamical Perine, an incoming freshman.

Chasing 1,000

It took 14 games, but Taylor crossed the 1,000-yard mark in 2015, finishing with 1,035. Mike Gillislee (2009-12), who rushed for 1,152 yards in 2012, is the only other Gators running back to join the 1,000-yard club since 2004.

With the planned committee approach, it seems highly unlikely any of the main three running backs get into quadruple digits in 2016.

Play-calling

The Gators’ running backs had to truly earn every yard gained last season.

On first down, Florida ran it 226 times for an average of 3.5 yards per attempt. For all intents and purposes, that number is the same as Florida’s average of 3.48 yards per attempt on all runs.

The first-down numbers say a lot about offensive line inconsistencies. Nearly 60 percent (11-of-19) of UF’s rushing touchdowns were scored on first down. The Gators also notched a plurality of runs exceeding 10-yards on first down (24-of-56). Despite being the most productive down, the overall average (3.5 yards) doesn’t show it.

Predictably, the Gators averaged the most yards when the defense was looking for the pass on third downs ranging from 7-to-9 yards to go. In those situations, Florida ball-carriers picked up 6.9 yards per carry. The numbers make sense, as Taylor had the speed and shiftiness to be effective in open space. When defenses crowded the line, however, Taylor didn’t stand a chance behind a flimsy offensive line.

UF’s ground game struggled somewhat in short-yardage situations. With 3rd-and-3 or less to go, the Gators failed to convert on 13 of 38 tries and ran for just one touchdown.

Greatest concern

The committee approach sounds promising given the personnel, but none of the three has proven himself in the SEC. Thompson’s JUCO numbers from last season look solid (265 carries, 1,292 yards, 18 TD), but came against competition far inferior to what he’ll be face in the fall. In 78 combined rushes, Cronkrite (44 carries, 157 yards, 3 TD) and Scarlett (34 carries, 181 yards, TD) did little to impress. Roughly one third of Scarlett’s yards came on one 60-yard run against Georgia.

Oct 3, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Jordan Cronkrite (32) runs with the ball against the Mississippi Rebels during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

One stat that must improve

There’s plenty of room for improvement across the board, but the 2015 squad’s 2.2 yards per carry inside the red zone is the lowest since 2011 (2.3), even worse than the 4-8 2013 team that averaged 3.3 yards inside the opponent’s 20.

This should be an area where Thompson can provide a boost, but he has to prove he can keep the ball secure after his red-zone fumble in the spring game.

Better or worse in 2016

Subtract a 1,000-yard rusher, add a JUCO transfer. That does not seem like a formula to make the Gators’ ground game better, but it could work out that way. In 2015, the line’s lack of size and experience was a major problem and it affected all facets of the offense. Treon Harris’ issues at quarterback also encouraged defenses to crowd the line, making life more difficult for the Florida running backs.

Nobody is mistaking the Gators’ running backs for Alabama’s ball-carriers, but McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier both won national championships with the Crimson Tide using multi-back approaches. While Alabama is known more having a tandem of a feature back and a complementary back, it could still be seen as encouraging for Florida’s committee approach.

It’s doubtful that any Gators running back gets 1,000 yards like Taylor, but Thompson, Cronkrite and Scarlett in 2016 have the potential to be more productive than Taylor, Cronkrite and Scarlett in 2015 (337 carries, 1,373 yards, 17 TD).