David Jones

FLORIDA TODAY

GAINESVILLE – In 1994, Fred Taylor and Reidel Anthony were two of the hottest freshmen in college football. The University of Florida had started the season for the first time in school history as the No. 1 team in a major poll.

It was a team filled with potential, and much of that potential two years later led the Gators to their first national title.

One national publication sent a reporter to Gainesville to write a story about the team and the decision was made to do a smaller, separate story on the two sensational rookies. The writer questioned Anthony about Taylor and him chasing rabbits in the sugar cane fields in South Florida to help them get faster as kids.

The following week, Taylor was asked about chasing rabbits.

"I think," chuckled the freshman running back, "we did that once."

Asked about the photo of the rabbits, Taylor chuckled again and noted rabbits in the area are brown, you couldn't find a white rabbit in the sugar cane fields, only at a pet store.

Soon after, Anthony came into an interview room and was also asked about the story and told he'd been busted — that Taylor had already confessed the two didn't chase rabbits and it was a bogus story.

"Shoot," said Anthony with a sheepish smile, "it got us in Sports Illustrated didn't it?"

Don't believe everything you read, especially when it comes to freshmen in college football. Taylor's son, Kelvin, stood on the sidelines in a Florida uniform early last season while fans begged for him to get into games. The crowd roared the few times he got the ball early in the season and there were reports he was angry, upset and might even be looking to exit Gainesville.

The truth?

It's like the white rabbits.

A myth.

"I knew I had to wait my time," Taylor said. "I wasn't upset (not playing). I was trying to learn by watching."

Long before Kelvin Taylor ever slipped into a Florida uniform, everybody knew who he was and what he could accomplish. The son of Fred ran for 2,423 yards and 41 touchdowns as a senior at Glades Day in Belle Glade — the same school as dad, and the same excitement from UF fans when he signed.

There's no questioning the talent. He wears No. 21 — like his dad.

But last year, Taylor had six carries in his first five games — not even playing in three. But with the knee injury to Matt Jones in the sixth game of the season, Taylor responded with 52 yards on 10 attempts against LSU and went on to rush for 508 yards (4.6 per rush). Big things ahead? Could be.

Taylor was Florida's leading rusher in five of the past six games of the season. If he'd been a starter from the beginning, he likely would have been a 1,000-yard back. He had 74 yards at Missouri, 76 against Georgia, 96 and 92 at South Carolina and vs. Georgia Southern.

Those are the kind of numbers many are expecting this year. But more importantly, the switch to a spread offense means Taylor should get the ball a lot more in space — where his speed could turn small gains into huge plays.

"I'm very excited about this offense," he said. "Playing in space is what I love to do. To get one-on-one with different linebackers, I just feel like we're going to have a great season. I don't feel like too many linebackers will be back to tackle (the running backs) this year."

It's a much different feeling for Taylor this August, compared to a year ago when he was just trying to figure out where his classes were. Now he's deep into the playbook, established as a veteran and the possibilities have a lot of people excited.

"My biggest thing (last year), I was just sitting back and learning from the older guys," Taylor said. "I was pretty much just waiting for my time, cheering those guys on. I knew eventually I was going to play."

Fred Taylor kept his son focused.

"He just told me to keep going out there and play my game and just be patient and everything else will fall in place," Kelvin said.

Some other great advice from dad?

"Trust your eyes," Kelvin said. "He always told me to trust your eyes. Especially with me being a starter this year ... just play fast and keep going hard."

Many watched impatiently early last fall as their eyes were dominated by No. 21 standing on the sideline while Florida's running backs struggled at times. They begged to see the legend's son show what he can do. It eventually happened in a season most call a disaster.

As big a nightmare as last year was for the Gators, a lot of teammates are excited to see Taylor run this fall after what he learned a year ago. Is he a white rabbit tall tale or a legend about to be born? Trust your eyes, as he said. One way or another, we're about to see.