2013 Recruiting: Kelvin Taylor

Position:  Running Back

Hometown/School:  Belle Glade, FL - Glades Day

Height/Weight:  5'10/215

Rivals - 247Sports - Scout - ESPN

Other Offers:  South Carolina, Florida State, Alabama, USC, Miami

Report:  Kelvin is the son of former Gator great, Fred Taylor.  Taylor's commitment came down to his father's alma mater and the school that has produced a pair of great running backs recently in Alabama.  Taylor committed to the Gators back on Florida's Junior Day.

The four major recruiting services seem to be split on Kelvin Taylor.  ESPN (4-star) and 247Sports (5-star) rank Taylor as the best running back in the nation for 2013.  On the other hand, Scout and Rivals both agree that he is a 4-star prospect and rank him 9th and 10th.  Interesting.

Kelvin Taylor has been playing varsity football for Glades Day High School since he was in the 7th grade.  Taylor has put up huge numbers and has already broken Emmitt Smith's Florida high school rushing record.  In the 8th grade, Taylor rushed for almost 1700 yards and 27 TDs which helped him being named All-State that year.  Remember, that was just his 8th grade year.

Here is what Chad Simmons of Scout had to say about Kelvin Taylor:

Taylor is built very low to the ground, he has a very strong lower-body, and he is very tough to tackle. He keeps his legs moving after contact, he moves very well laterally, and although he may not have elite speed, he has very quick feet. He hits the hole with quickness and power, and he is a very productive back. He has natural running back instincts and he has a good feel for the game when the ball is in his hands.

Bud Elliott from SB Nation:

He has been a workhorse back, with many games of over 30 carries. Taylor is not big enough to carry the rock that many times in the college game, but he does have a nice blend of power, speed, quickness and natural instincts (thanks, Dad!).

 The main question surrounding Taylor seems to be whether he can last in college or not.  By the time Taylor graduates from high school, he will have played 7 years of varsity football.  Can Taylor stay healthy through his time at Florida?  Hopefully.

Taylor will play in the Under Armour All-America Game next year and Taylor just finished competing at The Opening.

Videos:

Future Gators Previews The Opening

One of the biggest recruiting events all year will take place this weekend in Oregon.  The Opening will be loaded with talent as it will include 84 players that are in this year's ESPN 150.  Gator fans will have a lot to watch this weekend on ESPNU as seven Florida commits and other targets will be at the camp.  Below is a preview of The Opening for the Florida Gators.

There are three major parts to the Opening; SPARQ Rating National Championship, Nike 7ON, and the Elite Lineman Challenge.  Every player at the camp will compete in the SPARQ Championship which basically measures the athleticism of the recruits.  The players will then break into either the Elite Lineman Challenge or the Nike 7ON depending on their position.

Nike 7ON Preview

Six of the seven Gator commits will be participating in the Nike 7ON.  The list includes three DBs (Nick Washington, Keanu Neal, Tre' Bell), running back Kelvin Taylor, wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood, and LB Quinton Powell.  Gator fans won't have to wait long to see their recruits with six players participating in one event.  As mentioned earlier, there will be also some Florida targets at the camp, but I won't go into too much detail about them.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the three defensive backs fare against top-level talent.  Also, one of Florida's top targets, CB Vernon Hargreaves III, will be at the camp.  Hopefully fans will get to see VHIII go one-on-one with Ricky Seals-Jones, the top ranked receiver in the nation.

Quinton Powell can prove to the experts that they are wrong.  Scout lists pass coverage as a weakness for the OLB, but he'll have his chance to prove himself against the best in the nation.  OLB Alex Anzalone will also be in Oregon this weekend.  He will make his commitment this weekend at the camp (between Penn State, Notre Dame, and Florida).

Ahmad Fulwood is the only WR commit going to the camp representing Florida.  He has a good chance to get a small taste of what is to come in future years if he is guarded by one of his future teammates.  Seeing Fulwood against his friend and fellow UF commit, Nick Washington, would be great.  Is Fulwood's downfield playmaking ability as good as advertised?  We'll have to wait for the weekend.

Elite Lineman Challenge Preview

4-star DT Caleb Brantley will be only Florida commit competing in the challenge.  The Elite Lineman Challenge will contain a lot of one-on-one battles.  This will give Brantley a great opportunity to show off his strength and descriptiveness that he is known to have.

Florida is in the top five for talented DE DeMarcus Walker, who will also be at The Opening.  Walker took a trip to Gainesville just last week.

Future Gators will have more coverage of The Opening throughout the weekend.

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