Oldham makes the most of senior season
Taylor Oldham finally got his opportunity.
The fifth-year senior began his UCF career playing alongside players such as Breshad Perriman, J.J. Worton, Rannell Hall and Josh Reese, arguably the deepest wide receiver unit in school history.
Once those players graduated, or in the case of Perriman left early for the NFL, Oldham was supposed to step in and be next in line. For Oldham, and the entire program for that matter, 2015 didn't exactly go according to plan.
He was sidelined for much of the season with a serious foot injury, one of many unfortunate circumstances that ultimately contributed to a winless season for the Knights.
Now fully healed and playing in Scott Frost's #UCFast offense, Oldham has blossomed as the team's second-leading receiver with 22 catches for 267 yards. On Saturday, he'll play his final home game.
UCFSports.com caught up with him earlier this week.
Is this a week you start to reflect a little bit more knowing you'll be playing your last game at Bright House on Saturday?
"The whole year, I was thinking about the last times. I always knew this time would come, but it's definitely surreal out there. It's like I only get to do this a couple more times and go into Bright House one more time. It's bittersweet."
How happy are you to end your career on a high note? Last year was tough overall for the team. You were injured for a lot of the season, but you're back and making a big impact this year and you're going to a bowl game.
"Last year was dreadful and was kind of depressing being here with all that going on. I was hurt and we were losing. I really appreciate Coach Frost for giving me the opportunity to play and all these coaches, Coach Walters. They've done a great job to turn this team around into a bowl caliber team."
How much it did mean to you knowing you got that sixth win last week and you're going to a bowl game?
"We're definitely glad we're bowl eligible. We definitely want to get these last two wins. I don't know if it determines what bowl we go to if we win out, but we're excited for the bowl game. We've got to win these last two games. That's important."
What the outside people think really doesn't matter, but nobody was expecting a lot from a team that was 0-12 last year. I know you guys always knew you had a better team than what your record indicated last year, but when did you recognize you had a chance to have a pretty good team this year?
"I always knew we had talent here. That was never the question to me. In spring obviously you don't know because they're installing a new offense. In camp, when things started being put together, we realized we could do some damage here. I think we let some games go this year we should have won. I think we only should have lost maybe one game this year. We definitely put it together in the camp. That's when we realized."
What's the biggest reason for the turnaround? The new coaching staff and the changes they've made?
"I think they just put us in a good position to make plays and win. They know what they're doing. They're smart. The defensive scheme is different than last year. I think Coach Chinander is doing an awesome job. I even tell the guys on the sideline, who are these guys? It looks totally different. It's like a different team out there. We're all excited."
Looking at the offense, it's not a finished product yet as Frost still has to recruit for the system. But what's your expectations for this offrense in the future for years to come?
"I talk to Patti all the time. I think Frost can have this team, I don't want to say playoffs, but when he gets all the people in here that he wants in here, and he gets all his players, he's going to have this program rolling."
How much fun are you having this season?
"It's like night and day. I love it here. I love what the coaches are doing. I can talk to them. They're players' coaches. I can say whatever I want to them. It's awesome."
Have you thought about the moment on Saturday when you'll walk out one last time with your family?
"I'm excited. I know my mom is excited. She's my biggest fan. I'm excited for her. I know she's excited to do this."
You've been here for five years. What's your favorite memory of your time here?
"Obviously the Fiesta Bowl year was awesome. O'Leary, he was tough, but we were winning. Any time you're winning you can let go of the other stuff. The Fiesta Bowl year was probably my favorite year other than this year. This year I'm playing a lot and doing pretty good."
Do you have a favorite game for you personally? You've had some good games this year.
"This year my favorite game was UConn. I had fun that game. Every game now is fun. I'm looking forward to playing every game now. It's awesome being out there."
You guys got the sixth win, but you want more than that. You want to have a winning season and try to win out. Talk about that, finishing strong against two really good teams.
"I guess these two teams are supposed to be the two best teams in the conference, coach says. Even Coach Walters says all the time, don't settle for six. Let's try to get eight and the bowl game. That's our goal."