Football: He's Taylor-made for the Kellam offense

VIRGINIA BEACH

Kellam High School head football coach Chris DeWitt and his brother Mike, the Knights’ offensive coordinator, are big James Taylor fans.

Not the bald singing legend but the most productive running back in South Hampton Roads this season.

Kellam’s James Taylor, all 5-foot-7 and 175 energetic pounds of him, has motored for 1,575 yards. Beach District coaches voted him the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.

“James is a master at running past the big linemen into what I call the land of the little people or opposing defensive backs,” Chris DeWitt said. “He does a lot of other good things as well, like blocking and receiving. He’s right up there with the best backs I’ve seen around here.”

Mike DeWitt most admires Taylor’s toughness.

“He’s played with a dislocated finger and a high ankle sprain this year,” said coordinator DeWitt, who often tells Taylor in practice huddles to insert his mouthpiece in an effort to curtail his chatter. “His motor is always running, and he’s full of energy. That’s a good thing.

“James has really good field vision and bursts through the hole.”

Taylor’s breakout senior campaign was spawned by his extra dedication in the offseason.

“I didn’t play fall baseball for the first time and really worked hard in the weight room because I knew I would get more chances with Javon Boddie having graduated,” said Taylor, who is also a talented centerfielder and leadoff man on the Knights’ baseball team.

Taylor acknowledged that a premier offensive line, led by first-team All-Beach District tackle Hunter Steward and guard Tyler Thompson, has much to do with his success.

“It’s the best line around and got even better when Hunter transferred from Canada this summer,” Taylor said.

The presence of Taylor’s best friend, Sean Abrams, in the same backfield has been another plus.

“We’ve been close since Sean came over from Kempsville two years ago,” Taylor said of Abrams, who was a state wrestling finalist last winter. “It doesn’t matter who gets the ball, he knows the other one is blocking hard for him.”

Taylor is undecided about his future. He likes football and baseball equally. His ideal scenario would be playing both on the college level.

“That would be great, but I know eventually I’ll have to make a choice,” he said.

His older brother Jason, a corner infielder, played for the Kansas City Royals’ Class-A affiliate in Burlington, Iowa, this year and hit 17 home runs.

“We talk all the time, and I’ve learned from his successes and mistakes,” Taylor said.

“I don’t know what he’s going to do, but James could play college football,” Chris DeWitt said.

For now, Taylor’s focus is totally on Friday night’s game at the Sportsplex against unbeaten Eastern Region Division 6 semifinal foe Ocean Lakes.

The Dolphins defeated Kellam 21-17 on Oct. 3.

“It was the best game of the season,” said Taylor, who rushed for 145 yards and stayed in despite spraining an ankle in the third quarter. “They stopped us inside their 5 at the end. My ankle swelled up to about three times normal size after the game.

“They’re an excellent team. We have to control the ball and be more consistent on offense to beat them this time.”

Mike Keech, (757) 446-2366, mike.keech@pilotonline.com