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Third in trio gets chance to stand out

Taylor Jacobs, Florida's No. 3 receiver, has breakout game on a national stage with 10 catches for 170 yards.

[Times photo: Brendan Fitterer] Florida wide receiver Taylor Jacobs catches a deep pass from quarterback Brock Berlin for a touchdown with 12 seconds left in the first quarter.

By DEBI JONES
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 3, 2002

MIAMI -- Taylor Jacobs spent a little extra time in the bathroom Wednesday morning, praying.

Though junior Reche Caldwell and sophomore Jabar Gaffney have controlled the spotlight for most of the season, Jacobs led the Gators with 10 catches for 170 yards and two touchdowns and was named MVP of the 56-23 Orange Bowl win over Maryland.

"If someone would have told me (Tuesday) that I was going to have a game like this, I would have said, 'No, way,' " Jacobs said. "Coach (Steve) Spurrier called a good game plan. He put us in a position to make big plays. I spent a little extra time in the bathroom this morning praying. So that might have made the difference."

Jacobs had 147 yards at halftime, and his 46-yard touchdown reception from Brock Berlin in the first quarter surpassed his career high for a game.

The trio of Gaffney, Caldwell and Jacobs has garnered comparisons to Florida's trio of Ike Hilliard, Jacquez Green and Reidel Anthony, all NFL receivers.

Among the three, Jacobs was unanimously called the fastest.

"I think (Jacobs) is one of the best receivers in the country and he has been playing behind the other two best players in the country," quarterback Rex Grossman said. "If they do leave, he is going to catch a lot of passes and be a top-10 pick in the draft. Even if they stay, Taylor is still going to have a good year next year."

All three receivers bring something different to the offense, Grossman said.

"(Jacobs) is a talented receiver that is extremely fast," Grossman said. "Jabar is sort of fast and he smoothes away from guys, and Reche has a lot of moves and can get open, and Taylor is the speed guy, the track guy that stretches the defense for you."

Wednesday night could have been a glimpse into Jacobs' future. Spurrier said earlier he wanted to get some of the younger players into the game, and Jacobs made the most of his opportunity.

Jacobs broke the bowl record of 159 receiving yards held by Alabama's Ray Perkins in 1966 and Florida's Travis Taylor in 1999. His rise to success has not been immediate. During his freshman season, he caught seven passes for 99 yards. His sophomore season brought 17 catches for 198 yards and one touchdown.

This season Jacobs caught 38 passes for 712 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season.

"Believe it or not, my freshman year I set goals, my sophomore year I set goals; I wasn't really that productive, I wasn't that productive at all," Jacobs said. "This year, I came out here and said I am not going to set any goals, I don't have anything to lose. I have everything to gain, so I just came out here like every day was my last day, not hold anything back, and so far it's been working for me."

Though he said the decision to become a Gator was an easy one, Jacobs grew up in an unlikely place to join Florida's receiving corps.

He attended Florida A&M High outside of Tallahassee. His mother, Sandy Jacobs, is a Florida State graduate, and his father, Harry, attended Florida A&M.

Wednesday night, Jacobs made sure Florida was glad it got him.

"He brings a lot to the offense. He's the fastest person on the team and he can get behind the secondary," Gaffney said. "Any time he is on the field, they have to work about him going deep. Then he has a lot of courage and heart and he'll go across the middle and catch the ball. He brings a lot of the offense."

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