Alabama RB Taylor seeking transfer to USF

For the second time this year, USF is in position to land a coveted local running back who was supposed to play at Alabama. Back in January, it was Sarasota's Mike Ford, who enrolled and will compete for carries for the Bulls this fall. And now it's Jamar Taylor, a standout from Lakeland's state championship teams who enrolled early at Alabama this spring but is seeking a transfer closer to home.

That possibility has been all over message boards all summer, but here's the key update: Jamar Taylor was on USF's campus on Tuesday at the athletic facility to discuss the possibility of his transferring in this fall. His mother said Tuesday night said she wasn't aware of any decision being made, as Lakeland coach Bill Castle said Monday, but it appears the only hurdle is whether USF can get his transcripts and get him accepted into the university in the six weeks before fall classes start.

A little more about Taylor, who paired with Florida signee Chris Rainey as a dominant running tandem for Lakeland. He's 5-foot-10, 200 pounds and rushed for 1,113 yards as a junior and totaled 40 touchdowns in his final two seasons. USF already has solid depth at running back, with Ben Williams back and Mike Ford and Aston Samuels ready to splash as freshmen, with true freshmen Richard Kelly and Tyson Butler already on campus as well.

I expect Alabama coach Nick Saban to address this issue from his end today -- last month, he'd downplayed the rumors, saying Taylor was still on campus and the team would do whatever it could to help him. If there is a family illness involved, Taylor would be in position to seek a hardship waiver that could allow him to avoid sitting out the transfer year that's normally required. If he didn't get that, this would still just count as a traditional redshirt year most freshmen take.

Again, this is still just something in the works, something that has hurdles to clear, but I wanted to address that there's more to this than idle gossip and speculation. It'd be a solid late addition to USF's recruiting class and would help build more of a relationship with one of the state's true prep powers.

Comments

[Brian Rolph]

It would be great to have him but this may take sometime with the NCAA so I really rather see him redshirt if he can't get to fall practice on time. If he doesn't get his waiver then he can redshirt like most true freshman which may be best. Mike Ford, Aston Samuels and Ben Williams have a huge jump on him so redshirting isn't a bad thing. We lose Ricky Ponton to a transfer but pick up Taylor. I will take that exchange all day. Taylor has more talent plus he has five years to play four at USF left while Ponton had two to play two left. This may enable Leavitt to move Tyson Butler to corner where he could be very effective.

[Bullsfan]

Rivals has him as the 25th best RB in the country last year. Our only weakness has now become are strength. This is only going to make Grothe a better QB. While I'm excited about him and Ford, Do not forget the name Richard Kelly.

This is quite exciting!!! September is almost here!

[Larry Goodman]

Jamal Taylor is a speedy power runner who also has "moves" and perfectly complemented elusive Chris Rainey. Together they were a prime reason why the Lakeland Dreadnaughts won two straight national and three straight state 5-A titles.
The biggest question is why more players (including Dreadnaughts) don't sign with the USF Bulls the first time: great nearby, up and coming BCS-conference program, with more and more national TV exposure. Also the chance to make history in several "first-ever" categories. Whenever he does play, Jamal Taylor will start, guaranteed!
--USF,'67, LHS, '62

[Claudel]

Soup you are a turkey! Stay over there on your nothing to talk about because UCF is horrible blogs. I would take a transfer with that kind of potential any day. 1100 yards splitting carries in high school is remarkable. Too much depth is never a bad thing.

[Brian]

It would be nice to see USF landing some LHS athletes going forward. There is alot of good football played in Polk County, but Lakeland has been king for a while.

[Turkey Soup]

USF is in the running to become one of the BIG 3 hardship waiver schools in the nation.

[Dave]

I think that there is one sure thing about college football: you can never have too much depth. Grab up as many good players as possible, because you never know when a guy is needed. In the interim, a creative coach can get multiple guys on the field at once (like a Ford/Samuels tandem that I'd like to see) or simply have him practice at a few spots. Hopefully Taylor's family situation improves and he's certainly welcome at USF.

[Greg Auman]

Sandro, with his speed, I've heard that Tyson Butler could get a look at cornerback or receiver. I think the rest will be running backs as expected. Remember that Josh Bellamy has said he expects to not qualify and attend a prep school, so Taylor would basically displace him in terms of total numbers at running back.

[Jim]

Now that is some depth. Last year we struggled this year we have some major tools. Go Bulls

[Sandro]

Great information Greg.
I just wanted to know since we will have so many running backs this fall, can any of them make a contribution at a different position.
Thank you.

solid reporting greg.

[Paisa el Toro]

Wow, when it rains, it pours. Great information as always, Greg.