Florida finds itself in a peculiar position when it comes to the running backs on its roster.
There isn’t a whole lot of depth or experience when it comes to the position for the Gators as last season’s leading rusher — Matt Jones — is gone and Kelvin Taylor is the only returning running back with any significant playing experience.
Taylor has been a backup his first two years and he played in 12 games last season, recording 565 yards rushing with six touchdowns while splitting carries with Jones.
Entering his third season, Taylor is ready to become the feature back in head coach Jim McElwain’s’ offense.
"I want to be the lead back. Being the lead back, being a leader for just for me going into the season …I’m just so thankful and ready to show everyone I can take on that responsibility and the bulk of the carries," Taylor said at UF’s Media Day on Aug. 5.
After Taylor, however, the depth chart is filled with unproven talent.
With Adam Lane transferring to Eastern Kentucky, more playing time is available for two players who have yet to play a single snap in a college game: freshmen Jordan Scarlett and Jordan Cronkrite.
Scarlett came into the program with a lot of hype surrounding him after being one of the top prep running backs in the country at Fort Lauderdale’s St. Thomas Aquinas high school.
He has the size and speed necessary to make defenders miss and he could complement Taylor in a big way.
"Scarlett, he’s deceiving. He’s very deceiving. Big body. He’ll shake you. But he’ll come back and also run through you," linebacker Jarrad Davis said after the team’s first scrimmage on Aug. 14.
Scarlett has the ability to be a game-changer and will make an immediate impact from the get-go when the Gators open up their season on Sept. 5 against New Mexico State.
While he wasn’t as highly touted coming out of high school, Cronkrite brings some of the same elements to his game as Scarlett.
Cronkrite is listed an inch taller than Scarlett, standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 205 pounds.
The Miami native has also shown what he’s been able to do in Fall camp as he caught the eye of Davis.
"Man, he runs the ball hard. …one cut and go. I love that with him," Davis said of Cronkrite.
In the Southeastern Conference, where each game is a grind, having the ability to play multiple running backs is something McElwain wants to do.
Should the Gators want to have a chance to compete in the SEC East, they are going to need to have a more consistent year from Taylor and have Scarlett and Cronkrite pick up the game as quickly as possible.
"I think you have to develop the position. You’re going to need three guys at least to go through the year with," McElwain said.
"So what you hope to do is find that guy that has the hot hand in the fourth quarter. That’s kind of the way we like to do it. Obviously, that has a lot to do with the development of those young guys."
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Kelvin Taylor celebrates during Florida's 38-20 win against Georgia at EverBank Field in Jacksonville.
