A small town on the shore of Lake Okeechobee, Pahokee, Fla. has a rich heritage.

With a once-thriving agribusiness and entertainment economy, Pahokee’s rich heritage has also been found on the football field. Pahokee High School, together with nearby Glades Central High School, has sent more than 60 players to the NFL. Some of the league’s best players were once beloved prep stars in Palm Beach County.

Fred Taylor was one of those stars.

Taylor starred at Glades Central in the early ’90s. He made his name and living as a running back, but didn’t even play the position until he was a junior in high school. He played linebacker initially for the Raiders. Taylor took the state of Florida by storm as a senior in 1993 rushing for 1,700 yards and 22 touchdowns. The 1993 season was highlighted by a game in which he rushed for 301 yards and five touchdowns.

255 miles north, in Gainesville, Fla., Taylor caught the eye of then-Florida head coach Steve Spurrier.

Taylor began his career as a Gator in 1994, and as a freshman he rushed for 873 yards and eight touchdowns. He won the 1996 national championship with Florida, but wouldn’t break out until his senior year in 1997. Taylor led the Gators in rushing that season as a senior with 1,292 yards and 13 touchdowns. Taylor was awarded numerous accolades that year including first-team All-SEC and Walter Camp first-team All-American honors.

The 1998 NFL Draft was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Taylor was selected ninth overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team just three years into its existence.

His NFL career would last 13 years, with 11 of those coming in Jacksonville where he was the face of the franchise. He played the 2009 and 2010 seasons with the New England Patriots, but his time as a professional wasn’t without its hurdles.

Playing in the league is tough, I would imagine. You’re an instant-millionare, taking care of friends and family. You have to deal with agents, front office personnel, business managers, endorsements.

Taylor can identify. Early in his career in Jacksonville, it was reported that his agent, William “Tank” Black, had stolen between $12 million and $14 million from clients he represented, and that Black had laundered nearly all of Taylor’s $5 million signing bonus, the only guaranteed money on his rookie contract.

He works now to ensure that doesn’t happen to players.

“I have a concept with some friends I’ve gotten to know over the years, and we’re starting to manage a consulting firm,” Taylor said in a 2012 interview with ESPNBoston.com. “Basically just to engage and help players by introducing them to companies that are strong. It’s not investment advice, but it puts them in good hands with people who aren’t going to try to rip them off.”

Playing with a brand-new franchise in Jacksonville, a small market in the NFL, many people said Taylor wasn’t marketable. According to him, though, it’s not where you play, it’s who you are.

“I’d say that’s off the mark, because it’s all how you treated people over the years,” Taylor said. “I’m investing, I’m a full-time father, I’m a full-time husband, and trying to stay in shape the best I can while building relationships with companies and partnering with others.”