Interview: Washington State 2017 CB Commit Tayari Venable Gaining Big National Recruiting Interest

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The future is bright at Rancho Cucamonga High School heading into the 2016 California High School football season. The Cougars wrapped up a 9-4 season in 2015 that was upended in the third round of the CIF playoffs in a 62-56 loss in five overtimes against Vista Murrieta. The skill positions on offense at Rancho Cucamonga are about to get a boost similar to how the Cougars secondary stands out with Thomas Graham Jr., Jaylon Redd, and Tayari Venable. Graham is emerging at wide receiver and Redd is already tearing it up at multiple positions for the Cougars but best friend Venable is about to expand his footprint on the high school landscape.

Before Venable even began his junior season he was already a Division-I football commitment with surging Washington State. Another set of Cougars appreciated the defensive back’s skill set at corner and at safety. Venable committed on July 1, 2015, and then proceeded to rack up 50 tackles, broke up three passes, forced two fumbles, and picked off a pass.

Eastern Washington, a D-II powerhouse, is the other school to offer the 6’0”, 180 pound, talent but the Twitter trail of messages and “how are you doing(s)” line up behind a slew of D-I powerhouse teams that include Notre Dame, UCLA, Auburn, Arizona State, Washington, Oregon, Michigan, Boston College, Cal, and Stanford. The offer sheet will expand, especially if Venable’s offseason camp and unofficial schedule goes as planned. As all the Pac-12 and Mountain West Conference schools fall in line with offers, expect the Big 12, Big Ten, ACC, AAC, and SEC to follow suit.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Tayari, pronounced Ta-r-ee, to go over his 2015 junior season and received a recruiting news update for the Class of 2017 talent.

Interview

Tayari, first, congratulations on an outstanding season with the Cougars.

“Thank you.”

You guys played your hearts out in a five-overtime loss to Vista Murrietta. I can’t imagine how draining a game that would be mentally and physically, especially in the playoffs. How was that game for you and the Cougars looking back?

“It was a great game. We showed tremendous heart. It sucked to lose but we played hard. I think we showed a lot of heart and stuck together as brothers and made the best of it.”

What position did you start at during your sophomore season?

“They started me at safety and then moved me to corner.”

Which position do you like better, corner or safety?

“Honestly, to me it does not matter as long as I’m on the field.”

Which position do you think you are better at as a player?

“I think I’m better at corner.”

What makes you a standout corner at the high school level?

“I’m real long and I’m physical at the line of scrimmage.”

When you’re back off the line at safety, what makes you an effective safety for the Cougars?

“I try to come down hill fast. I read the pass well and I can break on the ball.”

What was the best 40-yard dash time you have clocked?

“I ran a 4.5 at the Washington State camp.”

What are some of the things you plan on working on in the offseason to help ensure an even better season on the field as a senior?

“Right now I’m working on getting stronger, faster, and playing the ball better.”

What are some of the drills you are doing to help improve your cover skills?

“I’m working on my back pedal and getting out of my breaks faster. I’m working on the ladder with my dad (Garry) and I’m working on all the little things that I need to do to improve my game.”

Will you expand your role next year? Maybe play a little offense as well as defense?

“Yes. During the offseason I’m working on catching the ball and getting off the line. I’m planning on playing some receiver next year.”

Did you attend any one-day camps other than the Washington State camp over the summer?

“The WSU camp was the only college camp I went to. I did go to some exposure camps like Rivals and a camp through Ground Zero. There were a lot of colleges at that camp like USC, Idaho State, and whole bunch of other schools.”

Which of the camps do you feel you performed your best and where really able to show off your skill set?

“The Washington State camp.”

What did you do at the WSU camp that set you apart from the others?

“I won the fastest man competition, all the coaches loved my performance, and no one scored on me – that’s pretty much it.”

Well said. What drew you to commit to WSU?

“I feel like I can play early there. I really like the way Coach (Mike) Leach has turned the program around. I think it’s pretty great.”

Which schools are recruiting you pretty hard right now but have not offered you yet?

“Notre Dame, UCLA, Arizona, Stanford, Boston College, Cal, Colorado, Boise State, Auburn, Arizona State… Washington, Oregon, and Michigan.”

In addition to the camps you may attend, do you plan to take any unofficial visits during the offseason to tour the different schools and their facilities?

“Yeah, I’m trying to go to Washington, UCLA, Arizona, and Arizona State, I’m going to Washington State for sure. I plan to go to Stanford and Notre Dame as well.”

When you’ve talked to the different college coaches, what are they telling you they like about your game?

“They like the way I approach the game. They like that I’m long and physical. They like my height and just the way I play the game. They like that my grades are good too.”

Did you take any unofficial visits over the fall?

“No. Jaylon (Redd) and I went up to visit Oregon but it was during a dead period so the coaches could not talk to us or help us out around the campus.”

When you breakdown the different colleges thinking about your interest level in any school, what are some of the things that are important to you that influences the way you view a program?

“Definitely education and what the school brings to the table.”

What do you mean by bring to the table?

“How does the school help their players prepare for life after football and help their players become men? The relationship with the coaches are important.”

Are there any schools out there that you are interest in but have not started a recruiting dialogue with you yet?

“Yeah, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Clemson, and Alabama – I’d love for them to start showing some interest in me.”

Which one-day camps do you plan to attend this year?

“Definitely UCLA’s Rising Stars Camp. I plan on going to a Washington camp, Washington State again, and maybe SC (USC). Maybe Arizona and Arizona State too. I pretty much want to go to every camp I can get to this summer.”

I like classroom updates. You mentioned the coaches liked your grades. What is your cumulative GPA?

“My overall is a 3.2 and I had a 3.6 in my first semester.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“No, I’m taking that next semester. I did take the ACT practice exam.”

Is there a player on the NFL or college level that you model your game after?

“Yes, Tyrann Mathieu (Arizona Cardinals) and Vernon Hargreaves III (Florida Gators). I love the way they play and I love their love for the game.”

Outside of football, do you participate in any other sports at Rancho Cucamonga?

“I run track.”

Which events?

“The 100, 200, and 4×1.”

What is your best event?

“That’s hard, but probably the 200.”

What is your best time in the 200?

“22.5.”

What is your best time in the 100?

“11.1.”

Have you started thinking about what you want to major in while in college?

“Yes, I want to major in criminology.”

When your football playing career is done, how would you like to use your degree?

“I want to be a detective, something around that field of work.”

Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?

“My dad and then Jaylon Redd and his parents. My dad never gives up on me. He’s always pushing me to do my best. Jaylon’s dad does the same thing with me. Jaylon is like a brother. We’re always pushing each other to be better.”

Tayari, thanks for your time today and good luck with the unofficial visits and camp circuit.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: scout.com; Tayari Venable commits to WSU.

Photo credit: Venable family; No. 1 Tayari with No. 5 Jaylon Redd.