March 4, 2006

Rivals.com Staff Reports

Spring Practice Schedules Returning Leaders for 2006 Rivals.com Preseason Top 25

Texas football coach Mack Brown announced on Saturday that running back Ramonce Taylor would not be with the team this spring. The university said Taylor will not participate in any team functions.

"We excused Ramonce Taylor for the remainder of the semester," Brown said, "so he can spend more time on his academics."

Taylor, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound sophomore from Belton, Texas, was considered one of the team's most electrifying offensive weapons. He split time between wide receiver and running back on the Texas 2005 national championship squad.

Taylor carried the ball 76 times for 513 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns last season. He was the team's third leading rusher behind departed quarterback Vince Young and freshman running back Jamaal Charles.

Texas also has the returning Rose Bowl starter at running back, Selvin Young, back for his senior year. Brown also mentioned that Taylor's absence has made Henry Melton, a freshman from Grapevine, Texas, split time between running back and defensive end. It had been planned that Melton would spend the spring at defensive end.

Brown announced the decision at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium following the team's first spring scrimmage Saturday afternoon.