Soon after junior ballcarrier Matt Jones declared for the NFL Draft in December, it appeared Kelvin Taylor would be Florida’s next man up as the featured running back in 2015 under a new regime.
Adam Lane’s surprising performance in the Birmingham Bowl scrambled those plans a bit, and now Taylor, the Gators’ second-leading rusher last season, knows he’s in a fight for the first-team spot with a third-year sophomore intent on taking his spot.
“I just took from last year to just stay positive and everything else is going to fall into place,” Taylor said in a recent interview with OnlyGators.com. “I’m just so ready to get out here and keep working hard with my teammates, and I can’t wait for the season to start.
“We’ve been out there competing hard with each other, working to get each other better.”
Lane, a pint-sized bulldozer at 5-foot-7, 224 pounds, made the most of his opportunity in January with 109 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries against East Carolina. Taylor took notice and despite his 1,073 yards rushing over two seasons, knew the 2015 battle would be up for grabs.
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The Gators are expected to rely on their ground attack in September while the quarterback situation is ironed out between Treon Harris and Will Grier. McElwain will name his starting passer and be confident in his selection by the opener, but taking pressure off the position from a production standpoint, at least early in the season, would be ideal in a new-look offense.
Taylor has an obvious edge from an experience and talent standpoint, but Florida’s coaching staff has appreciated Lane’s effort-level this spring and willingness to adapt to McElwain’s up-tempo approach.
“Obviously come fall, there’s going to be a lot of competition coming in at that spot,” McElwain said. “That’s kind of where we’re at right now. We’re thin at a lot of spots, linebackers and (offensive line), as you guys know, and running backs is another one.”
Taylor’s anxious to show what he can do as a ballcarrier and receiving option out of the backfield in the spread, pro-style set.
“I feel like just this offense here is just an offense that’s really, to be honest, just a running back’s dream to be in,” Taylor said according to the Palm Beach Post. “It’s perfect for a back. You got so many things you can do in this offense, and I think it just fits me perfect, so I’m excited.”
Last season at Colorado State, McElwain’s offense was pass-heavy thanks to featured weapon Rashard Higgins, the nation’s leading receiver at 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Rams amassed 6,252 yards of total offense (18th in the country), but only 33 percent of that total came on the ground.
At Florida, McElwain’s offense must have a rushing presence and be able to convert in short yardage, third down situations.
It’s a line of scrimmage league and that’s one reason, despite severe struggles at the quarterback position in recent years, Florida has been able to keep it close and win games in the SEC.
