Source: Tony Von Richter, Western
Name: Alex Taylor
University: Western
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
High school / Cegep: St. Paul’s C.H.S.
Position: Running Back
Academic program: Kinesiology
Year of eligibility: 3
Height: 5-10
Weight: 202
Key stats from 2015: 1,068 yards (2nd in CIS) on 99 carries for a 10.78 yard average (1st in CIS), 12 touchdowns (2nd in CIS)
Awards & honours (since start of CIS career): 2014 OUA All-Rookie Team, 2015 OUA Second Team All-Star, 2015 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
PROFILE
After a solid debut season that saw him named to the OUA All-Rookie Team, Alex Taylor’s sophomore campaign was nothing short of sensational. The Winnipeg native emerged as one of the nation’s top running backs, placing among the CIS leaders in a number of statistical categories, and establish himself as perhaps the most efficient running back in the country.
“Alex is a dynamic running back,” said Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall. “He’s got the ability to catch the football, he’s a solid blocker who picks things up well and is very intelligent. He can run hard if he needs to pound the ball in there because he’s strong, but he can also take it the distance if he gets a crease. He’s special.
“Last year, looking at over 1,000 yards and under 100 carries, you can go into the CIS records and try to find a running back that went over 1,000 yards but had under 100 carries, I don’t think there is one. “
Coach Marshall isn’t exaggerating with those numbers, Taylor recorded 1,068 yards on only 99 carries, good for a CIS leading average of 10.8 yards per carry. Not only did Taylor’s average lead the nation, he did so by more than two full yards, with the next highest player averaging 8.5.
Taylor’s 1,068 yards ranked second in the nation, as did his 12 touchdowns, numbers that earned him a spot as both an OUA Second Team All-Star and CIS Second Team All-Canadian.
His fantastic 2015 campaign helped the Mustangs finish the regular season with a perfect 8-0 record, and establish themselves as the highest scoring team in CIS history, racking up 494 points and 64 touchdowns in regular season play.
The kinesiology student will once again be at the heart of the Mustangs rushing attack this season, combining with second year back Cedric Joseph to form one of the most impressive backfield duos in the nation.