By Jerry Ratcliffe

J’Mari Taylor has a chance tonight to become Virginia’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2018, and also has a shot to become the first Cavalier to lead the ACC in rushing since Antwoine Womack 25 years ago.

Taylor needs 83 yards (which is actually his rushing average per game this season) to hit the 1,000-yard plateau. The senior running back, at this time a year ago, was weighing his options after leading North Carolina Central to an 8-3 season.

UVA’s durable running back will have to accomplish the feat under demanding conditions, near- or sub-freezing temperatures in Scott Stadium against a desperate arch rival in Virginia Tech.

Taylor headed into the weekend with the most yards rushing of any ACC back with 917 yards. He’s actually third in rushing average per game but has racked up the most yardage. He also had more rushing attempts (187) than any back in the league.

With Virginia’s innovative use of the direct snap in scoring territory, Taylor also is second in the conference in rushing touchdowns with 13, behind only Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King (15).

The numbers speak volumes on Taylor’s confidence in jumping up to Power 4 football and in UVA’s research in finding a back who perfectly fit its scheme, regardless where he originated.

Moving up from Central to possibly becoming the ACC’s rushing champion in one year is something Taylor dreamed about, playing major college football. A confident player overcame all kinds of adversity in his journey, walking on at Central, starting out as the seventh-string tailback, now this.

“When I win this rushing title (we told you he was confident), I’d give it to the whole team,” Taylor said this week. “It was a team effort, it wasn’t just me. I’d be thankful for the guys to help me get there. If those guys didn’t do their job, then I wouldn’t get my 1,000.”

Leading the ACC in rushing attempts is something that Virginia’s coaches — Tony Elliott, offensive coordinator Des Kitchings and running backs coach Keith Gaither — all envisioned when they went shopping for a lead back. They liked his durability as much as his running style.

“Keith Gaither was telling me that, ‘you don’t miss practice,’” Taylor shared about his recruitment. “I was like, yeah, that was a big deal. I don’t miss practice. I can’t stand missing practice. It’s an urge that I’ve got to be there.”

He’s never missed a practice in his Central/UVA career (something Virginia All-America running back Thomas Jones was noted for), and has missed only one game. That particular week, he was recovering from a high ankle sprain at Central and said he felt he could have played, but coaches held him out with a bye week coming up so that he would be well-recovered for a bigger game.

In keeping his body well-conditioned for all the physical abuse that running backs endure, Taylor said he goes into treatment at least twice daily, taking advantage of what’s available to players in Virginia’s new, state-of-the art football center.

“When I was at the FCS level we had stuff, but we didn’t have as much as on the FBS level, so I’m thankful for all of these facilities,” Taylor said.

Having a top-notch running back who never misses practice is pennies from heaven as far as Kitchings is concerned, someone he can count on every week, every day.

“It’s been a godsend, honestly,” Kitchings said. “You look at it and we’re down X (Xavier Brown) and we’re down Noah (Vaughn). J’Mari and Harrison Waylee have been steady for us. So we’re thankful J’Mari has been here. From day one, the way he has attacked the weight room, the way he attacked the meeting rooms, the way he just embraced himself to the team, it was good for those guys in the running back room, and everyone on the team, because he’s so appreciative of his opportunities.

“Yet, he’s not allowing that to change who he is because he’s had some success for us. He hasn’t changed his work ethic, about how he approaches things or his humility. So he’s reaping the benefits of who he is.”

His recruiting process goes back to before his final season at Central was completed. Virginia Tech got into some hot water for having a member of its football staff on the NC Central sidelines, allegedly trying to make contact with Taylor during a game last season, according to Central’s coach, who was quite vocal about the situation.

Taylor eventually made his first visit to Tech and enjoyed it, but decided it wasn’t for him. Virginia was on him early as well, but Taylor and the UVA staff couldn’t marry up on a date to visit. When he did, it was game, set, match.

Once he signed with the Cavaliers, Taylor enrolled early enough to participate in spring drills and it was then that he self-confirmed that his belief that he could be a Power 4 running back came to life.

“I had full confidence, I was never in doubt,” Taylor said. “I wanted to make the jump to FBS. It’s always been my dream.”

Didn’t take long to convince not only himself, but everyone in Virginia’s program.

“After the first (spring) scrimmage,” Taylor said. “I felt like I had a really good scrimmage. Everybody saw my potential. Watching me on tape, they say, ‘you’re good,’ but until they see you in person, that was my confirmation.”

In that first scrimmage, he broke a 40-yard run for a touchdown.

“J’Mari just proves that there’s players at all levels and given the right opportunity, can be successful,” Kitchings said.

When Gaither declared prior to the season that in his opinion, Taylor was as good as any running back in the conference, some doubted, some even scoffed, but it turns out that the running backs coach was a pretty good judge of talent.

As Taylor said, though, some of the credit has to go to the Big Uglies up front, the wide bodies who open those holes.

“All those linemen who have been battling their tails off and sometimes been told they ain’t worth a crap, and then one week they’re good, deserve credit,” Kitchings said. “To see the look on their face and their joy of knowing we’re gonna rush for 200 yards, there’s a lot of pride in that.”

Taylor could join a small club of UVA backs from early in the George Welsh era if he reaches his goals tonight.

Barry Word (1985), Terry Kirby (1990, 1992), Tiki Barber (1996), Womack (2000), Jones (‘98 & ‘99), Alvin Pearman (2004), Kevin Parks (2013), Ellis (‘18), have either rushed for 1,000 in a season or led the ACC in rushing, or both.

That’s an elite club, and Taylor believes he belongs. It’s a long way from seventh-team running back as a walk-on at NC Central. Or is it?