Junior J.R. Taylor’s 241 rushing yards at Saturday’s game against Southeast Missouri stamped his name in the record books and earned him this week’s honor as the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

Taylor credits more than his athletic ability for earning the fourth highest rushing total in school history.

“It’s an honor to have all that, but it’s a credit to the offensive line and my fullback, Andre Jones,” Taylor said. “It’s the confidence in the coaches that I can carry the ball and a lot of credit to everyone around me for that. But it’s an exciting thing.”

Taylor’s coaching staff has had confidence in him since he visited Eastern as a sophomore at Mt. Zion High School in Decatur.

“He’s like Willie High,” said head coach Bob Spoo, comparing Taylor to one of his former backs. “He was also very similar in size and stature. He’s not fancy; he’s very powerful.

“His running style is more of a straight line. There’s different ways of getting things done, and he gets it done.”

High played for Spoo from 1992-95 and became the No. 2 all-time rusher for the Panthers with 4,231 yards behind Poke Cobb with 5,042 yards. High has scored the third- most touchdowns in school history with 37 and led the Panthers in rushing from 1993 to 1995.

“When I came to visit Eastern my sophomore year, they told me I played like him, and I felt that was a big honor,” Taylor said of High. “I talked to (High) a few times. He’s a real good back. He was a back you could depend on at the end of the game.

“Spoo told me if I wanted to be a good running back in Division I, I needed to be like him. I try to run like him as much as possible.”

Taylor’s 241 yards Saturday ranks one yard ahead of High’s best single-game total at Eastern.

“It’s a difficult thing,” offensive coordinator Roy Wittke said.

“It’s an accomplishment any time you gain over 100 yards, but it’s something special to gain over 200. He did it with a good average per carry. It still kept him almost at six yards per carry, and that to me is an even more startling stat. It’s quite an achievement.”

That athletic ability has built from the time he put on a football uniform when he was eight years old.

“I’ve been playing since third grade and I’ve never played anything except running back.” Taylor said. “It’s easy to me.”

Taylor has developed into a tough runner who can take hits on the field.

“His style of running lends himself to getting banged up,” Wittke said. “He finishes his runs and takes a lot of shots. He’s been somewhat healthy, but every Sunday he’s a little sore and banged up.

“He’s done a good job in the off-season, and that’s allowed himself to be able to handle the pounding like he took Saturday.”

Saturday’s sloppy conditions combined with his Taylor’s style of running contributed his 241 yards.

“The circumstances were probably right for him last Saturday,” Spoo said. “That kind of condition was conducive to the style he is.

“Our passing game affects how our running game goes. If our passing game isn’t there, that will open up things for J.R. He’s got to contribute that way. He’s a major part of that.”

Taylor’s running style is what fit him into the mold of Saturday’s game. Unlike his sophomore counterpart Andre Raymond who is more of a slashing back, Taylor is more of a bruiser.

“His style of running allowed him to get those yards,” Wittke said. “He runs inside well and with a good base.

“J.R. is a bigger, more physical guy. He’s different than Raymond, which is good for us. It gives us the ability to present people with contrasting styles. J.R. can pound people and Raymond can miss them. It presents a great deal of problems for the defense.”

While the junior carried Eastern’s offense in Saturday’s 12-0 win over Southeast Missouri, he also serves one of the team’s leaders.

“He’s a guy that has a tremendous work ethic,” Wittke said. “He’s a great role model from that stand point. He’s quiet, but when he has something to say, people respect him.

“He knows it takes a great deal of hard work to be successful.”

And Taylor’s work ethic will only continue to enhance his performance on the field throughout the rest of the season and well into next year.

“I think the big difference is he’s becoming a tougher runner,” Spoo said. “He still has a ways to go. He needs to keep his feet driving when he’s being tackled, but he’s learned to lower his shoulders and use his size. He’s going to continue to be effective.”