Austin Taylor is a True Team Player
Great Bridge junior Austin Taylor couldn't believe what he was hearing.
While the Wildcats were at a passing camp in Raleigh, North Carolina over the summer, the 5'9", 160 lbs. running back/receiver had been putting on a proverbial show for most of the week. Between making one fantastic catch after another and showing off some surprising speed and elusiveness, Taylor heard a murmur begin to stir amongst some of the spectators. What started off soft and low suddenly became a full-blown chant of "Reggie!" "Reggie!" "Reggie!"
Ever humble, it took Taylor a minute to realize what the onlookers were talking about. Taylor wears number five on his jersey for Great Bridge, the same number that New Orleans Saints rookie phenom, Reggie Bush wears. The crowd was bestowing the ultimate compliment upon Taylor, comparing him to one of the most exciting and anticipated professional football players of the last decade. It was something he hasn't forgotten and something he wants to live up to.
His picture was on the page in the August Football Preview of Gameday, but there was no mention of his name anywhere. It must be understood that Taylor isn't out for personal recognition or honor, but after helping out the team in many facets as a sophomore last season, he was hoping to be an integral part of the offense in 2006. "It makes me want to go out and do better." Taylor says, "It makes me want to work hard and prove that I belong."
As Great Bridge Head Coach Pete Gale points out, it would be difficult for anyone to stand-out in the Wildcat's offense this year. "One reason Austin is not known yet throughout our area is he is young and he plays on a team with two returning All-Conference receivers and a 1st Team All-Conference quarterback," Gale says.
That "1st Team All-Conference quarterback" just happens to be one of Taylor's closest friends and fellow junior, Casey Turner, who is continuing to put up monster numbers behind center for the Wildcats this year.
Turner's not the only one.
Despite all the talent that stands in front of Taylor at Great Bridge, Taylor is not content to just wait until next year to stand-out. Through the first month of this season, he was locally ranked third in receiving statistics. Trailing only Jamal Johnson of Bayside and teammate David Reynolds, Taylor had 14 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown in just the team's first three games. More impressively was the fact that he was averaging 11 yards per catch, meaning that he's basically good for a first down every time he touches the ball and is always capable of breaking a big play.
"Austin plays H in our offense which is a hybrid inside slot receiver and tail back," Gale says, "He gives us a distinct advantage at that position because of his knowledge of the offense and his ability to convert routes based on coverage."
Taylor plans to keep building on that knowledge for this season and next as he is already dreaming about playing collegiate football somewhere after he graduates high school in 2008. For now, he plans on growing bigger, getting faster, and helping his team in anyway that he can down the stretch run of the season.
