Most crucial Jayhawks 2015: No. 15 – TE Kent Taylor
At No. 15 on our countdown we find the second tight end to crack the list as former Florida transfer Kent Taylor lands in the middle of the list.
Taylor sat out last season after transferring from UF and is now learning his third offense in four years. How quickly he picks that up and shows the ability to run things without having to think too much could determine how much the tall, lean and athletic tight end plays during his first year eligible with Kansas.
Here’s a deeper look at Taylor:
15. Kent Taylor, 6-foot-5, 220-pound Jr. Tight End
A four-star recruit at tight end when he signed with Florida in 2012, Taylor has played in six college football games, all in 2012.
He redshirted his sophomore season at Florida and then had to sit out last season per transfer rules. He showed during the spring that he has skills as a pass-catcher, but so far two things have held him back from developing into the every-down tight end so many powerhouse schools thought he would become when they recruited him.
First, he has had difficulty putting on weight. He measures 6-foot-5 inches and weighs 220 pounds. Second, he has not shown a passion for blocking, a huge part of that position. He does not have wide-receiver speed. At this point, he’s likely to back up Ben Johnson.
He has shown the potential to make plays in the passing game and create match-up problems down the field with his size and athleticism so it’s possible that even in a limited role, Taylor could make an impact when he is on the field.
Teammates say he’s a funny dude who likes to clown around and is very hard on himself because he feels the urgency to make his mark and has such a strong desire to win. Despite having little experience, he did play in the Sugar Bowl following the 2012 season and that fact gives him a taste of college football that nearly everyone else on this roster can’t come close to matching.
Most Crucial Jayhawks 2015: