With Jelani Jenkins leaving for the NFL, the Gators are looking for another playmaker at the weak side linebacker position. This is a neck and neck race between Darrin Kitchens and Michael Taylor. Kitchens is raw for a player who is entering his senior season because he has not gotten a lot of playing time, but he does have a lot potential. He is a good run stopper and is decent in pass coverage. He could use some refinement in some of his technique, but if he won the battle as he is now, he should be good enough.
Michael Taylor is a bit more talented than Kitchens, but he is not used to playing outside linebacker. If he can find his niche at outside linebacker, he will win the starting job and should be very successful. He finished last season with 32 tackles, 1.5 for a loss and 1 sack. That is a step down from the season before, but it is still pretty good for a backup linebacker. Taylor is not that good in pass coverage, but he is a good run stopper, which is needed from a weak side linebacker. He will get more playing time this season, whether or nor he wins this job, since he will be a backup middle linebacker as well as a backup weak side linebacker.
I believe Taylor will end up winning the starting position because he is more talented than Kitchens and I think he will find his niche at outside linebacker. He will not only play good this season, but as a redshirt sophomore, he will almost certainly be around next season as well. Taylor wont be on the field in dime and maybe nickel situations, but he will be a good two down player, at least this season.
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