When Florida brought in Adam Lane and Kelvin Taylor as part of its 2013 recruiting class, each was expected to compete for a position near the top of the depth chart.
With 1,000-yard rusher Mike Gillislee playing in the NFL and projected starter Matt Jones recovering from a viral infection, the two freshmen were given an early opportunity to make a splash.
But with the Gators’ season debut against Toledo fewer than two weeks away, both tailbacks are buried on the depth chart.
Junior Mack Brown is expected to start with Jones out. Former walk-on Mark Herndon, who received a scholarship following UF’s practice on Tuesday, is currently the Gators’ backup running back. Converted safety Valdez Showers has also impressed in practice and is No. 3 on the depth chart.
"The young guys have got to continue to show their improvement in practice," offensive coordinator Brent Pease said on Wednesday.
Lane and Taylor have struggled at times during Florida’s fall camp. Coach Will Muschamp has praised their ball-carrying ability, but he said there are several areas where the freshmen must improve.
"They’re very talented runners," he said on Aug. 19. "So much more goes into it other than just running the football. They’ve got to take a step."
What has been the duo’s biggest hindrance to this point?
"No. 1 is ball security," Muschamp said. "You’ve got to take care of the football."
Pease said the coaching staff has a "pretty good idea" about who will earn playing time during the year and which players will redshirt. If one or both runners fail to impress, they could sit out this season.
"We’ve got to find the spot that, at least with one of them, whichever we decide to play … is that we’re going to get them some repetitions in the game," Pease said.
While Lane and Taylor have fallen on the depth chart, Herndon and Showers have been making their case for game reps.
Herndon played in six games on special teams last year as a walk-on freshman but was impressive enough during the first three weeks of camp to earn a scholarship. Pease said Herndon stepped up during practices and ran for consistent yardage — including rushing for more than 90 yards during a recent scrimmage.
"He works hard every day," Pease said. "He’s got a great attitude to be around, and he just keeps grinding. And he got rewarded for what he’s done."
Said Herndon: "They’ll find somewhere to put me in where I’ll succeed."
Showers was touted more than Herndon when he came to Florida — at a different position. He was rated a three-star cornerback by Rivals.com and redshirted his freshman year before playing in 11 games last season.
When Showers last worked out of the backfield, he rushed for 2,024 yards and 29 touchdowns as a high school senior.
Showers moved to running back this fall and has made his mark on the team. Pease compared him to former UF multipurpose back Omarius Hines.
"He is natural," Pease said. "He’s got great speed and brings in kind of that scatback-type of runner.
"All of a sudden you have the pounding back who’s running it downhill then all the sudden you spread him out and this guys hitting creases."
Freshman running back Kelvin Taylor lines up during practice on Monday. Taylor came to UF as a four-star recruit.
