Taylor can play right away

Freshman running back Jamar Taylor has been granted a hardship waiver by the NCAA that will allow him to play this season. Taylor, who transferred after one semester at Alabama, will see immediate action and compete for carries in a deep backfield. "We're awfully excited about that,'' coach Jim Leavitt said. Check back for more later.

Comments

[Gary]

That is great

go bulls

[nickdelray]

Yes!!!!!!!!.....and it counts!!!!!

[PINGBULL]

dirty!!!!

[Kyle]

This has got to be some kind of record...either then NCAA gives these things out like candy, or USF has the best waiver people in D-1A

[941]

From the outhouse to the penthouse at running back in one season!

[KC Orlando]

God bless coach Gregory as he figures out how to give these guys enough touches to get them in a groove and happy. A very nice problem to have. I'd say we may now have the best backfield in the state. I don't want to get too hyped up (since we have a very tough schedule) but the possibilities for the 2007 team are very high. I hope we can all stay focussed.

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose!!

[Jeff]

Great news for Jamar. Now we definitely have the best backfield in the state to go along with the best QB and the best coach. CJL is already 1-0 against Meyer. I just wish we were playing the "big 3" so we could claim the state championship on the field!!!
Watch out Auburn here we come..."War Pelican!"

[Tom]

Two big name running backs should make this a nice year to hand off the ball. The problem will be that there not enough football's to go around to good players. Hope they can find a way to keep those 6 RB's happy. Either way it should be a huge upgrade from last season.

[Dave]

Great news. Hopefully now this 5-headed monster RB will produce.

[David B. Bohl at Slow Down FAST]

Mice balancing act on Coach's part. I don't envy what he'll have to do on the field to keep these guts in the game, interested, and happy.

Anyone care to guess who will have a better season, Taylor or his ex-Dreadnaught teammate Chris Rainey?

[Dave]

Here's a link to a nice state of Florida football feature on Rivals

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1144&CID=706732

[cee]

dont get too excited, he was only a 3-star recruit out of h.s.-- and he got most his yds because teams were focused on stopping chris rainey.

[Mark]

That was a good article. Hey Cee, there was no mention of your sorry team. Only when Jim Leavett said,"We're not part of the Big Three and not part of the other three. That's kind of where we are. We're a team in no man's land." That's funny that he refer UCF, FAU, and FIU as "the other three". GO BULLS!!!

USF must have smart folks working in their football office to be able to get Taylor (who had already enrolled at Alabama) this waiver while Moody must sit out a year at Florida after transferring from USC.

[D.T.]

There is a huge difference between Moody and Taylor, Moody wants to transfer because of competition, while Taylor is doing so for family reasons.

[D.T.]

Cee, you need to do a better job at pretending to be a USF fan. We are not idiots, we know you are not a USF fan because you don't have anything positive to say no matter the situation. We could win the BE and you still would complain, why? because you are not a USF fan. And don't give us the "I donate money" b.s.

[Dave]

I'm glad that Taylor is playing right away, but how does his playing help his family situation? The reason that has been cited here is his 1 year old son. I guess I fail to see how playing this year will somehow make him a better caregiver than if he had to sit out the year.

McKenzie's situation is hardship- his mother is ailing and may not have gotten to see him play had he sat out the year. Plus, when he left Florida, I would assume she was in better health. Finally, he has spent several years in school, transferring twice. He must be close to graduating. Taylor had a child before making his college decision, and is a freshman. I'm not picking on him or looking for a fight, I'm just asking what the stated purpose of a hardship waiver is.

[Mark S]

Dave, I believe the hardship was granted to Taylor because his mother has a legitimate heart in addition to his kid.

[Windbane]

Dave, perhaps his family situation changed. Just let them have their personal lives and be grateful he can contribute.

[G.A.]

Leavitt has said Taylor's mother has a heart condition; we don't know if that's the only reason, but it's what we believe to be the source of the hardship. I don't believe his son was a factor in the waiver, but it's certainly a good reason to move closer to home.

[Mark S]

cee, you just continue to show how naive you are about football. This is a quote from the U of Florida that appeared the Times today:

"Rainey is expected to get carries at running back, but coach Urban Meyer said he most likely will never be a full-time running back at UF because of his size (5 feet 9, 156 pounds). Cornerbacks coach Chuck Heater said it's possible Rainey could help in a limited role in nickel or dime schemes."

Stars don't mean a thing when you hit the football field. Leavitt has recruited the best backfield in the state!!

[Dave]

I didn't mean to attack his personal life, I'm just a little unsure about the whole "hardship waiver" concept. I hadn't heard about his mother- that certainly changes the situation.

Additionally, if he playing, should we assume that Kelly is redshirting? It would be pointless to have 4 backs in the same class (Samuels, Ford, Taylor, Kelly- it would be smart to put Taylor or Kelly one year behind).

[EEC]

Cee does not get it and I feel bad for him as his life is full of negativity. USF now has the most potent backfield in the state of Florida and I feel bad for teams facing us.

[D.T.]

Dave, of course it doesn't change his family situation if he plays or sits out but it is the NCAA's way of telling Taylor: "Hey, we understand your situation and we are not going to punish you by making you sit out a year." Moody has to sit out because there was no hardship involved in his situation.