Chiefs RB moves well in cyberspace

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — For the moment, running back Jamaal Charles cannot be LaVance Taylor’s favorite Kansas City Chiefs player. Taylor is Taylor’s favorite player, and Charles happens to play the same position.

An underdog story with a strong local twist has unfolded at Chiefs camp. Taylor, who grew up in Raytown and became a record-setting running back for Central Missouri, pulled on a No. 32 red jersey Friday and took reps in his first NFL camp.

Area player trying to make good is always a fun tale. How Taylor landed a spot amplifies the power of social media.

Wednesday, Taylor included the Chiefs on his list of NFL teams, along with Jerry Jones and Deion Sanders, that he attempted to contact through Twitter.

Included was a 12-minute highlight clip of Taylor darting, cutting and twisting his way to 6,231 all-purpose yards in his 44-game career with the Mules.

Taylor credited his father, LaVoid, with the idea of reaching out into cyberspace. Thursday, Taylor was contemplating his future, thinking about where to apply for jobs — he had interviewed with a food service company “a cool little job, nice benefits” — and was about to close his eyes when he got a call from his agent.

The Chiefs were interested.

“I felt like my heart was about to pop out of my chest,” Taylor said. “I was here in about an hour.”

The Chiefs found themselves in need a running back after releasing Cyrus Gray and losing Keshawn Hill with a hamstring injury. The situation was such that reserve quarterback Chase Daniel worked at running back Thursday. Taylor was the team’s lone running back Friday for workouts. Now, the veterans are in camp Saturday for the first practice open to the public, and Taylor was on the field with the team he grew up following.

“Love the Chiefs, I love anything Kansas City actually,” Taylor said. “This is humbling and a blessing.”

Besides Charles, Taylor followed Priest Holmes and knows about Marcus Allen.

“My favorite Chief? It’s still Jamaal, I can’t lie,” Taylor said.

Don’t count him out. Taylor ended his college career with a 260-yard rushing game in Central Missouri’s victory against Southeastern Oklahoma in the Texarkana Bowl. He was signed by Ottawa of the Canadian Football League, but got cut. Still, he learned a lesson.

“When it didn’t work out, it made me hungrier ..” he said, “because I knew I belonged there.”