In a time where flashy Marshall Faulk-like moves get all the play on highlight reels, North-South running backs often go unnoticed.

But opponents and Panther head coach Bob Spoo are quick to take notice of senior tailback J.R. Taylor.

The 6-foot-1, 221-pound Decatur native carried the ball 17 times for 208 yards and four touchdowns last week against Tennessee-Martin – a season high – to earn co-Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors. Taylor is this week’s Top Cat.

When Spoo saw Taylor at Mt. Zion High School, he quickly noticed the similarities between him and another explosive North-South runner, Eastern’s No. 2 all-time rusher Willie High. High played for the Panthers from 1992-95 and amassed 4,321 yards. Taylor has amassed 3,135 yards in his career and is 162 yards behind the Panthers’ No. 4 rusher, Kevin Staple.

Taylor was told to play like High and be as explosive running straight forward as possible. He’s taken the advice.

“I was honored to be compared to him,” Taylor said. “I’ve been trying to finish my runs as quick as I can.”

In many regards to Spoo, Taylor’s level of play is higher than High’s.

“The thing about J.R. that is different is that he can catch in the backfield,” Spoo said. “That was one of Willie’s liabilities, so in that way (Taylor) is much better.”

Catching has never been a problem for Taylor. He played both basketball and baseball before college.

For most of this year, being able to finish a run without pain was his biggest battle. He said the Tennessee-Martin game was the first he’s had all season without any discomfort. He was able to claim big chunks of real estate north and south to the tune of a 54-yard touchdown run and another for 51 yards.

“I just really feel focused now,” Taylor said. “But I’d gone through every injury you can think of – hand, foot, everything and all the pain from that is gone.”

He’s hoping his career won’t go south after this season ends. Several pro scouts have shown interest and Taylor said he’s working to make the NFL.

“It’ll take a lot of hard work to get there and a lot of speed,” Taylor said. “But that’s what I’m working to get to and I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Taylor is already seeing the benefits of some extra work he put in over the summer. Taylor began his training at 6 a.m. each day with weight lifting. He then ran on Eastern’s track and did more speed work in Champaign. He slashed his time in the 40-yard dash down to 4.4 seconds.

“I think I almost did too much speed work,” he said. “But I know it has really paid off.”

Taylor’s straightforward attack works in concert with the multi-faceted effort from junior tailback Andre Raymond.

“It gives us the consistency and the ability to run in there hard every time,” Spoo said. “We’re really glad Taylor is completely healthy now.”

But Taylor defers much of the credit he gets to the offensive line and senior fullback Andre Jones.

“Without the line and without ‘Dre (Jones), Andre (Raymond) and I wouldn’t be able to do much of anything,” Taylor said.

He doesn’t ask for much in the way of a gap up the middle.

“I just cut right through and run straight up there as hard as I can. I don’t need much at all,” he said.