ENGLEWOOD – Jordan Taylor made a name for himself last season as Peyton Manning’s favorite throwing partner, and he’s still making noise.

The wavy-haired Rice product – a practice player last season – earned some of the morning’s loudest cheers Friday morning at Broncos training camp with an Odell Beckham-esque, one-handed catch. Claiming a roster spot from a single catch at training camp is a long shot, but he’s hoping it might set the tone for what’s to come.

“We have a lot of competition at the wide receiver position and a lot of guys that are really talented and have been playing for a while,” Taylor said. “Every day it’s about coming out and getting a little bit better and trying to make a mark.”

He’s fighting for a job against 11 other wide receivers on the Broncos roster, so his special teams performance will play a role in making the 53-man roster. He spent a portion of Friday’s practice blocking on punt returns. Taylor said he didn’t spend much time working on special teams in college.

The 24-year-old became Manning’s throwing partner last season when the quarterback tore his left foot’s plantar fascia. For hours before practice, the kid from Sherman, Texas ran routes for the rehabbing future Hall of Fame quarterback, then headed for practice with the entire team – two-a-days in December.

One more rep became 10 more, and even Manning worried about running the undrafted receiver into the ground. But “Sunshine” kept on. Head coach Gary Kubiak noted the wide receiver’s stamina – a direct result of last year’s conditioning.

“It seems like the harder things get and the longer we practice – those types of things – is when he starts to play at his best,” Kubiak said after practice Friday. “Legs get a little tired today and yet he keeps going. I think his conditioning level gives him a chance to be a really good player.”