The Jaguars Fred Taylor has been one of the more underappreciated backs in the league since was drafted ninth overall by Jacksonville in the 1998 draft and is now in his 11th season with the Jaguars. The elder Taylor graduated from Glades Central and went on to Florida, where he was a member of the 1996 national championship team.
It looks like his eighth-grade son Kelvin is following in his famous father's footsteps. With another player's wrong cut down the sideline, eighth-grader Kelvin Taylor suddenly became the Gators' feature running back. Senior Brandon Dean tore his ACL on a run in the second quarter of the Gators' first game against Chaminade-Madonna. Dean is out for the season. In stepped Taylor, who rushed for 103 yards on 14 carries with three touchdowns against Chaminade.
When fans, and undoubtedly scouts from major D-1 programs from across the country watch Taylor play or look at his chiseled 5-11, 205-pound frame and it's difficult to believe he's so young. He is already being profiled on Rivals.com;
Some highlilghts from his profile on Rivals:"As soon as he came into the school, I looked at his body and felt like he could play varsity football," Walker said. "In my mind, I'm thinking I am going to give him a shot, and if he is able to handle it mentally – because he has it physically – then I'll keep him up. If not, I was going to have him play JV."
Chaminade-Madonna coach Tim Tyrrell didn't even realize Taylor was an eighth-grader, or that he was Fred Taylor's son, until after the game last week - a 28-3 victory for Glades Day.
"He's the best tailback in the country for his age," said Tyrrell, in his first season at Chaminade after six seasons at Canton (Ohio) St. Thomas Aquinas. "He already looks like his dad."
"He's the best tailback in the country for his age," said Tyrrell, in his first season at Chaminade after six seasons at Canton (Ohio) St. Thomas Aquinas. "He already looks like his dad."
"We had him in the running backs group and he was doing drills, and I saw he had good feet," Walker said. "Whenever we started doing our team offense in practice, he jumped right in there and ran the ball well. Right off the bat, he was reading blocks and cutting off of them, and he was doing some things everyone can't do."
Taylor is a power runner with a 40 time of 4.68 seconds - nothing remarkable among the speedsters of south Florida, but still impressive for his age. His greatest strength, Walker said, is his ability to see the field and make cuts at full speed.
"He has great vision and knows when to cut," Walker said. "He is able to see a little crack where you wouldn't think there is one."
Taylor is a power runner with a 40 time of 4.68 seconds - nothing remarkable among the speedsters of south Florida, but still impressive for his age. His greatest strength, Walker said, is his ability to see the field and make cuts at full speed.
"He has great vision and knows when to cut," Walker said. "He is able to see a little crack where you wouldn't think there is one."
People already are comparing Taylor to his dad, but he hopes to make a name for himself.
"I wish it was just me only that they would talk about, but it doesn't bother me," said Taylor, who admits he was nervous for his first varsity game until after three or four plays, when he realized he could handle it.
Taylor credits his dad for teaching him how to make good reads and stay humble, but he doesn't necessarily pattern his style after the way his dad plays.
"I play my own game," he said.
"I wish it was just me only that they would talk about, but it doesn't bother me," said Taylor, who admits he was nervous for his first varsity game until after three or four plays, when he realized he could handle it.
Taylor credits his dad for teaching him how to make good reads and stay humble, but he doesn't necessarily pattern his style after the way his dad plays.
"I play my own game," he said.
And he's been featured in the USA Today:
"Kelvin has good vision, is a slasher that can make people miss and can cut on a dime," said Glades Day coach Pete Walker. "But he is an eighth-grader, so he still has a lot to work on."Taylor is already on his way to being a 1,000-yard rusher this season. Following the Chaminade game, Taylor rushed 14 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns against Benjamin on Friday.While Taylor's early success has the area buzzing, the Glades Day coaching staff wants to avoid putting too much pressure on him."We're not expecting him to win the game, he's a part of the puzzle," Walker said
Yes, a 5-11 205 pound 8th grader, he's already bigger than half the backs playing D-1 football right now, if his coach can resist the urge to run him into the ground, he could be a great college running back.
3 comments:
WOW! a kid with a solid head on his shoulders, good for him for staying grounded & wanting to make his own name! some of these scouts go after these kids way to young.
It hasn't even really started for him yet, when he's a freshman next year, he won't be able to keep up with the mail, calls and texts from colleges.
I can't believe how be he is in just the 8th grade, 5'11" and 200+
that's kinda sad, let him be a kid for a-while.
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