History says Florida running back Kelvin Taylor is poised to have a big year.

Tailbacks have traditionally thrived in previous offenses directed by new Gators coach Jim McElwain, putting up big numbers in his pro-style offense in both the rushing and receiving games.

McElwain was the offensive coordinator at Alabama when Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy consistently gashed SEC defenses en route to the NFL. McElwain’s preferred zone running schemes produced similar success during his tenure as the head coach at Colorado State, as Kapri Bibbs rushed for 31 touchdowns in 2013.

Taylor, a junior and the son of former Gators running back legend Fred Taylor, hopes to do likewise in his first year as Florida’s starting tailback in an offense that better suits his running style.

Zone runs require running backs to carefully read the blocks in front of them and choose the best crease to enter. Athletic ability and elusiveness almost always trump size in zone running schemes, making it a better fit for the 5-foot-10, 205-pound Taylor.

Taylor succeeded in bursts in 2014 such as the career-high 197 yards he managed in the upset of Georgia, but was left frustrated overall following an erratic season that saw him total less than 60 yards in nine games in a reserve role.

By season’s end, he had fallen completely out of favor with the previous coaching regime in Gainesville, who preferred more north-south style runners for their more conservative offense predicated on attacking specific holes. Former running backs coach Brian White often chafed at what he considered too much dancing and indecision by Taylor at the line of scrimmage. The running back’s inconsistencies in picking up pass protections didn’t help his case.

Now the Gators’ most experienced back following the losses of Matt Jones and Mack Brown and this summer’s defection of Adam Lane, Taylor hopes to realize the potential many saw in him after an exceptional high school career. He figures to get his opportunity, although McElwain has often said that he prefers to keep his backs fresh by splitting carries among several players before going with the hot hand to close games out.

Like most running backs becoming acclimated to the more competitive collegiate game, Taylor has had to learn to play on the field with other great athletes. He’s always had great vision and speed, but has now come to understand that he needed to be a better student of the game as well if he is to be successful.

Taylor has come to realize that it sometimes means planting your foot early and turning upfield sooner rather than opting to do so later in the hopes of a big play that rarely comes. It also means he must consistently make quicker pre-snap reads to better pick up opposing blitzes.

Taylor thinks that his time has finally come, and McElwain likes what he’s seen so far.