Jadrian Taylor makes play for running back at UTEP after 100 yard scoop and score against Charlotte

EL PASO, Texas -- UTEP finally won their first game in the Eastern time zone with a 41-35 victory over Charlotte on Saturday, something that very well might not have happened if it weren't for Jadrian Taylor.

The defensive end ran 100 yards on a fumble return for what ended up being the difference in the game.

"As soon as I picked it up I was like I hope they don't call this back, like I'm just praying they don't call this back," Taylor said. "I ran for about 40 yards and I said I knew nobody was going to catch me so I said man let me just slow down a little bit and go ahead and get to the end zone."

It's a moment JT has been working towards for years now. He told ABC-7 out of high school he had no FBS offers and instead played at Kilgore College. From there he says he got just two offers to play FBS football - one of those coming from UTEP.

"It was hard to get recruited honestly," Taylor said. "I was getting down on myself but I knew my worth."

UTEP head football coach Dana Dimel also knew what JT would bring.

"He was just a part time starter at JUCO but we saw his pass rush, we saw his athleticism and we could see his talent and he's been a special player for us that's for sure," Dimel said.

Throughout his three years with the Miners, he's been involved in 54 tackles, had 8 sacks (3 of which came on Saturday against Charlotte) and of course the 100 yard scoop and score.

With his athleticism on full display during that play, JT says he should get a shot at running back now. In fact Dimel says JT has been saying that since he joined the program.

"It was really strong this summer, he was really pressing the issue so now he's just pinned me in a corner so we'll probably just see him at running back," Dimel said.