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Fred Taylor doesn't get Pro Football Hall of Fame nod

On3 imageby:Keith Niebuhr•about 9 hours•

On3Keith

Florida Gators
2 Nov 1996: Florida Gators head coach Steve Spurrier gives instructions to running back Fred Taylor during a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Jacksonville Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Florida won the game, 47-7.

Florida Gators running back great Fred Taylor, one of 15 finalists for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, did not make the final cut. Four men were elected to the Hall on Thursday night — but unfortunately Taylor wasn’t one of them.

Fred Taylor also had a stellar Florida Gators career

Taylor hoped to become the third Gator to make the Hall. Running back Emmitt Smith and defensive end Jack Youngblood are Florida’s only former players to make it. Both had stellar college and pro careers — much like Taylor.

Here’s who get elected: Receiver Sterling Sharpe, defensive end Jared Allen, cornerback Eric Allen and tight end Antonio Gates.

Overall, this was Taylor’s 10th year of eligibility but his candidacy has picked up steam in recent years. Taylor, who earned All-SEC and All-American honors at Florida, helped lead the Gators to the 1996 national title. He then went No. 9 overall in the 1998 NFL Draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

During his 13-year pro career, Taylor rushed for 11,695 yards and 66 touchdowns — and had 290 receptions for 2,384 yards and eight touchdowns. He was second-team All-Pro in 2007 when he rushed for 1,202 yards.

All told, Taylor had seven 1,000-yards seasons. He is No. 17 on the NFL’s career rushing list and his 4.6-yards-per carry average is behind only legends Barry Sanders and Jim Brown among NFL players who had more career rushing yards. Taylor was a member of the 1998 All-Rookie team. He ranked in the top 10 for rushing in a season six times in his career and twice was in the top three.

Here is more Taylor info from the hall’s official website:

Started 12 games in rookie season, totaling 1,223 yards rushing on 264 carries … Scored 17 touchdowns as a rookie (14 rushing, three receiving), which still stands as franchise’s single-season record … Named to the PFWA’s All-Rookie Team … Surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in a season seven times, including a career-best 1,572 yards in 2003 … Career rushing totals: 2,534 carries for 11,695 yards and 66 touchdowns … Also caught 290 passes for 2,384 yards and eight scores … After 11 seasons in Jacksonville, played two years for New England Patriots … Second player inducted into Pride of the Jaguars.

Taylor’s son, Kelvin Taylor, also played running back for the Florida Gators.

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