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Gators great Fred Taylor a finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

On3 imageby:Keith Niebuhr•12/27/23•

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 great Fred Taylor is now just one step away from achieving football immortality.

Taylor, a running back, was on Wednesday named a finalist for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Per a University Athletic Association release, “Taylor is one of 15 Modern-Era finalists. The slate of candidates in the Modern-Era Player category will be considered when the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee meets prior to Super Bowl LVIII. The Class of 2024 will be unveiled publicly Feb. 8 during the “NFL Honors presented by Invisalign” broadcast from Las Vegas on CBS Television Network and NFL Network and streamed on Paramount+ and NFL+. The show airs at 9 p.m. ET.”

Fred Taylor also had a stellar Florida Gators career

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.

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

Per Jaguars.com ….

Two first-year eligible players were among the finalists named Wednesday:

  • Tight end Antonio Gates
  • Defensive end Julius Peppers

To be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a nominated individual must not have participated as an active player for five consecutive seasons.

The other 12 modern-era finalists:

  • Wide receiver Reggie Wayne
  • Wide receiver Torry Holt
  • Wide receiver Andre Johnson
  • Returner Devin Hester
  • Defensive end Jared Allen
  • Safety Rodney Harrison
  • Safety Darren Woodson
  • Cornerback Eric Allen
  • Offensive tackle Willie Anderson
  • Guard Jahri Evans
  • Defensive end Dwight Freeney
  • Linebacker Patrick Willis

Taylor, 47, attended Glades Central High School in Florida and signed with the Gators as a member of the program’s vaunted 1994 recruiting class. In 2007 the Florida High School Athletic Association named Taylor one of the “100 Greatest Players of the First 100 Years” of high school football in the state of Florida.

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