With Jeff Driskel returning from a broken fibula to play in Kurt Roper’s new high-tempo spread offense — and not to mention the hoopla surrounding the backup battle between Treon Harris and Will Grier — much of the attention surrounding Florida’s offense has been directed to the quarterback position.
However, the Gators have quietly stacked a crowded and talented backfield during the offseason to potentially give coach Will Muschamp his most potent offense since he arrived in Gainesville in 2011.
And although a five-deep lineup at running back may seem like overkill heading into Saturday’s matchup with Idaho, Roper believes UF can use all the help it can get after the Gators ranked 13th in the Southeastern Conference in rushing yards per game (145.8).
"I don’t think you can ever have enough numbers there," Roper said. "I really don’t. I think that’s a physical position that is hard to stay healthy. I’m glad we’ve got a bunch of guys."
One of the tailbacks that had a difficult time staying on the field was Matt Jones, who played just five games in 2013 after a viral infection and a torn ACL caused him to be sidelined.
But now a fully healthy Jones coupled with a more experienced Kelvin Taylor gives Muschamp the one-two punch out of the backfield that he envisioned when he recruited the duo years ago.
Taylor went as far to say that he and his self-proclaimed "bigger brother" have the potential to accomplish a feat never seen in UF history: have two running backs record 1,000 rushing yards in a single season.
"I mean, this year . . . both of us could go for 1,000 yards," Taylor said. "We just got to keep working hard and I feel like me and Matt can do that, yes."
Mike Gillislee was Florida’s last 1,000-yard rusher in 2012, but Jones — a freshman at the time — only accrued 275 yards on 52 attempts as the Gators’ No. 2 running back.
The duo’s goal of 1,000 yards each seems even more daunting with Mack Brown still in the mix as well as Brandon Powell and Adam Lane.
Although a deep backfield may hinder Taylor and Jones’ personal achievements on the field, the rotation should give the offense as a whole a boost with more fresh legs and more targets in the passing game.
"Coach (Roper) is always talking about getting guys out in the open field," Taylor said. "We’ve got some players out at receiver, but the backs in this offense are definitely going to catch the ball. That’s why we stay after practice and do JUGGS and all different kinds of things."
Follow Jonathan Czupryn on Twitter @jczupryn
Kelvin Taylor rushes during Florida's 23-20 loss to Georgia on Nov. 2 at Everbank Field in Jacksonville.
