Florida Gators junior running back Kelvin Taylor and receiver Demarcus Robinson will forego their final year of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft, head coach Jim McElwain said on Monday.
Taylor is 15 yards away from being the first Florida running back to surpass 1,000 yards in a season since Mike Gillislee accomplished the feat in 2012. Taylor would be the 11th players in school history to accomplish that feat and would join his father Fred Taylor (1,292 yards in 1997). Taylor has had his best season by far in Gainesville and even though may feel that another year in school would help him, now is the time for him to capitalize on the season he had and enter the draft.
Rule changes in the NFL have placed more emphasis on the passing game and the running back position has become devalued. Staying in school would mean Taylor would return to an even deeper backfield in Gainesville as well as a draft class that would likely include Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook and Nick Chubb, to name a few.
Robinson leaving should not come as a surprise either. The talented yet maligned receiver has had trouble staying on the field while he was in Gainesville but his talent and skillset is undeniable.
Robinson led the Florida Gators with 47 receptions this season and was second on the team with 505 receiving yards.