ORLANDO — Kelvin Taylor’s career at the University of Florida ended on the artificial turf of the Citrus Bowl but his season will remain in the University of Florida record books. With 53 rushing yards Kelvin Taylor finished the season with 1,038 rushing yards — the 11th players in Florida Gators football history to reach the milestone and good for 10th best season by a Gator running back.
“That definitely was a goal of mine,” Taylor said. “My offensive line, those guys helped me out with that goal and they did a great job for me. I’m very thankful and blessed for great coaches and just great teammates.”
Taylor’s 1,000 yards were hard fought in 2015 with Florida’s offensive line struggling mightily at times. He did enjoy a season high against Georgia with 121 yards on 25 carries. Taylor owned Georgia during his career, playing in the stadium that his father, and fellow Florida Gators 1,000-yard rusher Fred Taylor, played most of his NFL career in Jacksonville. In three games against the Bulldogs Kelvin Taylor rushed the ball 70 times for 394 yards (5.63 per carry) and scored four touchdowns. His favorite memory while he was at Florida? “Smashing Georgia every year, killing those guys,” he said with a smile.
Taylor joins his father who rushed for 1,292 yards in 1997. He also matched his father’s season-high for touchdowns with 13. Kelvin and Fred are competitive and regularly spar over who could win in a foot race to this day but Fred isn’t competing with his son today. He’s just a proud father; happy for his boy and the milestone he reached.
“That’s definitely going to be something to talk about at the dinner table,” Taylor said.
His career is done. Taylor told reporters he feels like he was leaving the Under Armour All-American game just a few days ago and packing his bags for Gainesville to start college. He’ll turn his attention to agents and combines and workouts but he’ll never forget where he came from and what the last three years meant to him.
“I’m just very thankful,” he said. “There’s nothing like Gator Nation.”
Gator nation is grateful. Maybe a little grumpy today after that Michigan beatdown. But that doesn’t take away his contribution. Best of luck to him. Thanks Kelvin for choosing to be a Gator. Blessings wherever your path will lead…Go Gators.