Kelvin Taylor runs wild in Jacksonville again
JACKSONVILLE -- Earlier this week, Kelvin Taylor shouldered the responsibility for Florida’s anemic running game. He vowed it would turn around.
It did.
Florida's junior tailback ran wild against Georgia for the second-straight season, ripping off 121 yards and two touchdowns in No. 11 Gators' 27-3 rout.
Florida’s inexperienced offensive line created enough holes for Taylor, who entered the night ranked last in the SEC among starters in yards per carry.
“Those guys did a great job for me,” he said.
“I feel like I’m a really good running back and it was about time for me to start making plays. I just talked to my offensive line pretty much this whole week and told them, ‘Look, man, you’ve got to have a great game. Just give me that little crease and I’ll do the rest.”
Last year, Taylor rushed for a career-high 197 yards in EverBank Field -- the same stadium his dad, Fred, starred in for 11 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He did it again Saturday, and he wasn’t surprised.
“It’s my house,” he said.
“This is the Taylor’s house.”
The junior gashed the Bulldogs for several long runs, including a 16-yard, ankle-breaking touchdown in the second half. He now has 10 touchdowns on the season -- and four in Jacksonville the last two years.
"Based on what's happened, we ought to make this our home stadium for him," UF coach Jim McElwain said. "He's done a heck of a job here."
THIS & THAT
UF freshman tailback Jordan Cronkrite (Westminster Christian) was ejected for targeting in the third quarter and will miss the first half against Vandy. … Both teams wore traditional home uniforms for the second straight season. … Freshman tailback Jordan Scarlett (St. Thomas Aquinas) had a career-high 96 yards on nine carries. … Wideout Demarcus Robinson failed to record a reception for the first time since going catch-less against UGA last season. … Tight C’yontai Lewis returned after missing five games with a hand injury and caught a 25-yard reception.
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