Louisiana DT Stephon Taylor completes checklist of wants and needs for college recruiters

Written by Ryan Wright

If college coaches were constructing the perfect defensive tackle an itemized rundown of important criteria must first be listed. Among the desired traits would have to be height, somewhere in the 6-foot 3-inch or taller range. Good weight is a must, at least 290 pounds and maybe no more than 320 on the high end. Quickness, strength, a motor, good technique, a love for the game, and a bad attitude when the ball is snapped are other needs when building the perfect beast.

One such player who is shaping into the ideal mold is Stephon Taylor.

Taylor hits all the criteria listed above and he has the scholarship offers to prove it, 34 to be exact. The list reads out like a wish list of college offers from any high school player in the nation: Auburn, LSU, Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Cal, Florida, Florida State, Kansas State, Miami, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, TCU, Ole Miss, Utah, Arkansas State, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, North Carolina, and Missouri just to name a few.

The 6’4”, 292 pound, defensive lineman can play tackle, nose, or even add a few more pounds and play the middle in a 3-4.

College coaches were so taken with the McDonogh 35 star that despite a down season for the Roneagles, finishing 3-8 but still making the first round of the playoffs, coaches could not resist heading to New Orleans to see him play.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Stephon to get insight on how one of the most coveted Class of 2016 defensive linemen in the nation is preparing for his senior year, a look ahead to the 2015 season for McDonogh 35, and the latest update on how his recruiting is going over the summer.

 

Stephon, I know it’s difficult to talk about a tough season but looking back, what did you learn from the adversity of a 3-8 season?

“Never quit on your teammates. This year we’re working twice as hard as last year. Everybody is in and ready for a state championship. We’ll be there this year. There is a lot of 2016 talent on the team this year.”

How has the Roneagles looked in the offseason so far?

“Our 7×7 team won a lot of games in the offseason thanks to our defense. We’re going to Georgia this week for a 7×7 tournament.”

What are the strengths of this year’s football team?

“Last year our DBs were young. This year we’ll have a better defense. We’re trying to go three-and-out every time. Our offensive line is getting stronger than it ever has over the last two years. Our quarterback is getting better and focusing on taking over the team. Our running back who put up almost 1,000 yards last season is back. Everything is strengthing up. We have a freshman wide receiver, Lawrence Key, who will be good and a lot of comebacks from last year. Everybody has the experience of real game time and the playoffs.”

What are your strengths on the field as a defensive lineman?

“I think it’s all about speed, power, and quickness. Our D-line, we have a couple of top guys on our defensive front. We’re all putting in together on defense. Everybody on defense is working hard.”

What individual honors did you earn at the end of last season?

“I was first-team All-State and All-District.”

What was your best game last year from a performance standpoint? Which game did you feel like you dominated throughout?

“I think it was against Karr. I had a couple of sacks. I think I had six tackles alone that game.”

Is there a team you are looking forward to playing this year?

“Lake Tech (Lake Area New Tech). That’s a new team. We get them around Slidell and Higgins on the schedule.”

What have you been doing in the offseason to prepare for your senior year?

“I haven’t been doing anything personally. It’s all been team work. We run together and we lift together. We’ve been doing just about everything together. On those two days when we are not with the team, me and the D-line, Sundays at 6:00 we run a mile.”

What is your bench press max?

“I maxed out at 305 on bench.”

What about your squat max?

“405.”

Have you run a 40-yard dash lately?

“No. I haven’t run a 40-yard dash since our team camp last year.”

I have that you have 34 offers. Is that correct?

“Yes sir.”

That’s amazing congratulations.

“Thank you.”

Which of the 34 schools are pushing really hard for you right now that are maybe standing out above the others?

“LSU, Texas has put the heat on lately, Auburn is pushing hard, and Oklahoma. I’ve got a lot of schools pushing hard.”

Have you released your list of top schools yet?

“No, not yet.”

Do you have a timeframe when you will release your top schools?

“When I get my ACT score back. I’m not sure when I’ll get my score but after that, sometime in the fall.”

Which schools have you unofficially visited already?

“Coming up I’m trying to go to Texas A&M. Texas, and I want to go out to Oklahoma. I’m trying to go to a lot of places I haven’t seen. I want to go to Miami and the Florida Gators.”

Have you been to LSU?

“Yes sir, many times.”

How have the visits to LSU gone so far for you?

“They’ve gone good. All the staff, Coach (Ed) Orgeron, Coach Frank (Wilson, recruiting coordinator), and Coach (Les) Miles (head coach). They’re getting it together over there especially for the 2016 class. They’re doing good over there at LSU.”

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

“They like how I fire off the ball and use my hands to overpower my man. This season I will be doing it, using my hands to stand my man straight up.”

Did you go to any one-day college camps this summer?

“No sir.”

Do you plan on attending any coming up?

“I’m going to – I just got an invitation to Texas’ night camp. I’m going to that.”

What do you love about playing football?

“I love going against the person in front of me. I like going against the O-line and I like hitting people”

Photo credit: scout.com; No. 95 Stephon Taylor.
Photo credit: 247sports.com; No. 95 Stephon Taylor.