Mansfield RB plans trip to A&M

Texas A&M coaches are planning to bring in more than 100 recruits to the spring game on April 19, and one of those guests will be Mansfield running back Stepfan Taylor. Aggie Websider's David Sandhop visits with the talented back who already has offers on the table from some of the biggest names in the nation.

The state of Texas has always produced some of the best running back talent in the country, and the Class of 2009 appears to be no different, with as many as five national caliber prospects on the horizon. One in that elite group is Mansfield running back Stepfan Taylor who ran wild on most of the Dallas Metroplex defenses he faced as a junior in 2007.

Taylor finished last season with 1586 yards rushing, 231 yards receiving, and 25 total touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound back attributes his success on the field to his natural abilities and hard work.

“I’m quick for my size. I can make people miss or power over them if I have to,” Taylor said. “I think I have good field vision and I do a good job of following my blocks. I also work hard. My work ethic is pretty good.”

Taylor’s speed is an asset at the high school level, but he realizes that he needs to lower his 4.5 flat 40 time to compete with the best defenders at the next level in college.

“You have to continue improving to stay ahead of the game,” Taylor said. “I need to improve my speed and get down into the 4.4’s. I can run by most anybody right now, but I know I must get faster if I want to do that in college.”

Taylor’s junior performance has already attracted scholarship offers from around the nation. His offer list includes Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Stanford, TCU, Arizona, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Houston. He also does not claim to have a leader at this point, and is just now starting to schedule some unofficial visits.

“I haven’t visited any schools yet. I’m going to TCU this weekend,” Taylor said. “I’m going to the Texas A&M spring game on April 19. That’s all I have scheduled right now.”

The Mansfield native is intrigued by the new coach staff at Texas A&M, and their background in running a west coast offense. In fact, the type of offense each school runs is a very important factor for Taylor as he evaluates his school options.

“I’m looking for an offense that utilizes the running backs a lot,” Taylor said. “I’m not just talking about a run-oriented offense, but a scheme that uses the running backs in multiple ways, running the ball and catching the ball out of the backfield.”

Taylor is also looking for early playing time and will study the depth charts of the teams he’s considering. The blue chip running back gave no timetable for a decision.