Indiana University Athletics
IU’s New Tight End Set To Prove He’s the Right Fit
8/3/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Khameron Taylor won't make throw-me-the-darn-ball demands. Indiana's newest tight end isn't wired that way. He's driven to deliver instant impact, and if his South Alabama background suggests power blocker over difference-making receiver, don't let the stats fool you.
This coming season, the 6-4, 270-pound grad transfer aims to showcase his pass-catching skills.
"I just think I need the opportunity," he says.
IU, which threw for nearly 4,000 yards last season in a balanced attack, is primed to provide one year of it.
Receiving opportunity was missing for his three South Alabama seasons. Last year, Taylor caught two passes for 18 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown catch at Nebraska. The year before that, it was five catches for 67 yards, although that did include a 26-yard reception on a fourth-and-two play. In his first season, he didn't have a catch.
"I didn't get to run a lot of routes in games," he says. "I didn't get a lot of targets."
IU runs a far more dynamic passing attack that provides plenty of tight end opportunity. Last season Peyton Hendershot, a third-team All-Big Ten selection, set a program tight end record with 52 catches for 622 yards. He added four touchdowns.
Taylor almost certainly won't match that production, but that isn't the point.
"I think I'm really good in the passing game," he says. "I think I'll get an opportunity to show it in this offense. I feel good running routes. I'm going to make the most of the play when it comes my way."
As a newcomer, Taylor isn't looking to take command of the locker room.
"I'm going to lead by example and just try to buy in. Let my teammates know I'm bought in. I want to win. I'm here for you all. L-E-O."
That's head coach Tom Allen's Love-Each-Other philosophy that helped produce last year's 8-5 record, the most Hoosier victories in a season in a generation.
Tight ends coach Kevin Wright, who joined the program in January after five years at Florida's IMG Academy, likes Taylor's potential.
"What we've found in Kham is a guy that had predominately been a blocker, but who also is a really good athlete. He has the potential to catch the ball.
"It's going to be a matter of learning the offense. He's been an on-point guy. He's been very responsible in doing the things we've asked him to do."
That includes academics.
"He had a lot of schoolwork to do to finish up (at South Alabama) so he could get to IU," Wright says, "which is a compliment to who he is."
IU was looking to boost its tight end experience and depth, as well as reinforce its rushing commitment amid a diverse passing attack (Allen loves offensive balance). A grad transfer -- someone with a get-after-it mentality and immediate eligibility -- made the most sense.
"There are a lot of guys out there who jump in the transfer portal, or who could grad transfer," Wright says. "You're looking for a guy that's going to fit the needs."
Enter Taylor.
"He fits as a guy that has that hybrid ability," Wright says. "He's probably a little bit bigger than some of the (tight ends). And you can't replace experience. That's the advantage of bringing in someone like Kham, who's played a lot of college ball. I don't think the lights are going to be too bright for him."
One thing is clear -- don't look for finesse route-running.
"I bring toughness and physicality," Taylor says. "I'm prideful of my physicality and blocking.
"At South Alabama, I was a blocker. I just wanted to win. I gave my all for my teammates."
Now he wants give his all to the Hoosiers, which leads to the obvious question:
What brought the Florida native to Indiana?
"Things were gravitating toward IU," Taylor says. "It would be weird. Maybe I'd see something about Indiana. Maybe Coach (Tom Allen) would text me out of the blue when I'd be doing something else, working out.
"I just like everything about IU, the facilities, everything. I liked everything Coach Allen preached. I felt he was a good guy. I feel like he has my best interests at heart."
Allen wasn't the only one.
"All the coaching staff was cool."
That includes defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, who was the South Alabama defensive coordinator during Taylor's early years there.
"We had a pretty good relationship," Taylor says. "I'm cool with him. He's a great, genuine dude.
"I feel the coaching staff (will) develop me into a better player and (help me) reach my goals."
The pandemic, which shut down travel, amplified the challenge of finding a new college.
"It was tough," Taylor says. "I couldn't travel. I couldn't visit. I had to do a lot of background research. I had a lot of questions for Coach Wright, Coach Allen.
"I asked them about the coaching staff, the offense, how I fit."
Taylor wanted a system that would maximize his skill set as South Alabama's run-oriented attack didn't.
"I knew what I wanted out of myself and what I pictured myself doing. Who would get the most out of me?
"Indiana was that place."
Now Taylor works to find the right playing weight. He might shed 20 of the 270 pounds he played with at South Alabama.
Or, not.
"I feel comfortable at 255. I can play at 250. I can play at 270, but 255 is where I feel the fastest."
At Florida's Santa Fe High School in Alachua, Taylor was athletic enough to letter four years in basketball (1 more than in football), and finish fifth in state as a senior in shot put.
Taylor says his high school football coach had to push him to work out and work on his game.
"I wasn't fully committed. When I got to college, I saw what I could really do, and the player I could become."
That includes NFL aspirations.
"I could provide for my family. It pushed me to grow (as a person and a player). It made me think, this is bigger than me. I've got an opportunity to do something great, so why not give it my all?"
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Khameron Taylor won't make throw-me-the-darn-ball demands. Indiana's newest tight end isn't wired that way. He's driven to deliver instant impact, and if his South Alabama background suggests power blocker over difference-making receiver, don't let the stats fool you.
This coming season, the 6-4, 270-pound grad transfer aims to showcase his pass-catching skills.
"I just think I need the opportunity," he says.
IU, which threw for nearly 4,000 yards last season in a balanced attack, is primed to provide one year of it.
Receiving opportunity was missing for his three South Alabama seasons. Last year, Taylor caught two passes for 18 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown catch at Nebraska. The year before that, it was five catches for 67 yards, although that did include a 26-yard reception on a fourth-and-two play. In his first season, he didn't have a catch.
"I didn't get to run a lot of routes in games," he says. "I didn't get a lot of targets."
IU runs a far more dynamic passing attack that provides plenty of tight end opportunity. Last season Peyton Hendershot, a third-team All-Big Ten selection, set a program tight end record with 52 catches for 622 yards. He added four touchdowns.
Taylor almost certainly won't match that production, but that isn't the point.
"I think I'm really good in the passing game," he says. "I think I'll get an opportunity to show it in this offense. I feel good running routes. I'm going to make the most of the play when it comes my way."
As a newcomer, Taylor isn't looking to take command of the locker room.
"I'm going to lead by example and just try to buy in. Let my teammates know I'm bought in. I want to win. I'm here for you all. L-E-O."
That's head coach Tom Allen's Love-Each-Other philosophy that helped produce last year's 8-5 record, the most Hoosier victories in a season in a generation.
Tight ends coach Kevin Wright, who joined the program in January after five years at Florida's IMG Academy, likes Taylor's potential.
"What we've found in Kham is a guy that had predominately been a blocker, but who also is a really good athlete. He has the potential to catch the ball.
"It's going to be a matter of learning the offense. He's been an on-point guy. He's been very responsible in doing the things we've asked him to do."
That includes academics.
"He had a lot of schoolwork to do to finish up (at South Alabama) so he could get to IU," Wright says, "which is a compliment to who he is."
IU was looking to boost its tight end experience and depth, as well as reinforce its rushing commitment amid a diverse passing attack (Allen loves offensive balance). A grad transfer -- someone with a get-after-it mentality and immediate eligibility -- made the most sense.
"There are a lot of guys out there who jump in the transfer portal, or who could grad transfer," Wright says. "You're looking for a guy that's going to fit the needs."
Enter Taylor.
"He fits as a guy that has that hybrid ability," Wright says. "He's probably a little bit bigger than some of the (tight ends). And you can't replace experience. That's the advantage of bringing in someone like Kham, who's played a lot of college ball. I don't think the lights are going to be too bright for him."
One thing is clear -- don't look for finesse route-running.
"I bring toughness and physicality," Taylor says. "I'm prideful of my physicality and blocking.
"At South Alabama, I was a blocker. I just wanted to win. I gave my all for my teammates."
Now he wants give his all to the Hoosiers, which leads to the obvious question:
What brought the Florida native to Indiana?
"Things were gravitating toward IU," Taylor says. "It would be weird. Maybe I'd see something about Indiana. Maybe Coach (Tom Allen) would text me out of the blue when I'd be doing something else, working out.
"I just like everything about IU, the facilities, everything. I liked everything Coach Allen preached. I felt he was a good guy. I feel like he has my best interests at heart."
Allen wasn't the only one.
"All the coaching staff was cool."
That includes defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, who was the South Alabama defensive coordinator during Taylor's early years there.
"We had a pretty good relationship," Taylor says. "I'm cool with him. He's a great, genuine dude.
"I feel the coaching staff (will) develop me into a better player and (help me) reach my goals."
The pandemic, which shut down travel, amplified the challenge of finding a new college.
"It was tough," Taylor says. "I couldn't travel. I couldn't visit. I had to do a lot of background research. I had a lot of questions for Coach Wright, Coach Allen.
"I asked them about the coaching staff, the offense, how I fit."
Taylor wanted a system that would maximize his skill set as South Alabama's run-oriented attack didn't.
"I knew what I wanted out of myself and what I pictured myself doing. Who would get the most out of me?
"Indiana was that place."
Now Taylor works to find the right playing weight. He might shed 20 of the 270 pounds he played with at South Alabama.
Or, not.
"I feel comfortable at 255. I can play at 250. I can play at 270, but 255 is where I feel the fastest."
At Florida's Santa Fe High School in Alachua, Taylor was athletic enough to letter four years in basketball (1 more than in football), and finish fifth in state as a senior in shot put.
Taylor says his high school football coach had to push him to work out and work on his game.
"I wasn't fully committed. When I got to college, I saw what I could really do, and the player I could become."
That includes NFL aspirations.
"I could provide for my family. It pushed me to grow (as a person and a player). It made me think, this is bigger than me. I've got an opportunity to do something great, so why not give it my all?"
Players Mentioned
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