Back to the Arizona Wildcats Newsfeed

Kickoffs are dangerous, but J.J. Taylor has ‘everything you want in a return guy’

J.J. Taylor had “no clue” why the Arizona Wildcats’ new coaching staff asked him to take on kick-returning duties — he had never returned kicks at Arizona before — but their reasoning is simple.

“What you want to do is give your team the best chance to be successful in all phases, which means that you want your best players out there,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said.

Taylor is certainly that. The 5-foot-8 running back has the breakaway speed to outrun defenders and the shiftiness to make them miss. And even though he’s short, he is not afraid to lower his shoulder against would-be tacklers.