Recruiting Report: Trenton Taylor (2021)
The 2019 football season started strong for the Irondale Knights. They were 2-1 and looking to build off their seven-win season from the year before. Then things started to go wrong for the Knights – namely injuries. Included in those…
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Continue ReadingThe 2019 football season started strong for the Irondale Knights. They were 2-1 and looking to build off their seven-win season from the year before. Then things started to go wrong for the Knights – namely injuries. Included in those injuries was junior Trenton Taylor. Despite missing half the season, Taylor made an impact – not only in the playoffs but also with college programs.
“The season started good,” Taylor said. “Then, injuries hit, and a lot started to go wrong. The season didn’t go the way we wanted it to.”
Health had a ton to do with the team’s performance.
“When we were healthy, we were just having fun – not overthinking things,” Taylor explained. “When we were healthy, we were confident. We were running the ball when we were winning games. When we were losing, we had turnovers, and the defense was always on the field.”
Taylor’s health was an issue too.
“The season went pretty good – it could have gone better,” Taylor admitted. “I played most of the season, not at one hundred percent. I ended up fracturing my tibia. I was able to come back for the playoffs.”
“I was out for a month,” Taylor continued. “The first three weeks, I couldn’t put any weight on my leg. As soon as I got back to walking, I did whatever I could to get back.”
He came back in time for the playoffs, but the coaches limited his time on the field.
“I made a big block on a touchdown late in the game,” Taylor said. “The coaches just had me blocking. I only played offense. Then in the second playoff game, I only played defense.”
Before his injury, Taylor played both ways.
“On offense, we ran a lot of power with me blocking linebackers and defensive ends. On defense, I lined up at linebacker – mostly weakside, outside linebacker. My main strengths were my run defense and zone coverage.”
Late last season, Taylor made a position change.
“I played offensive line until freshman year,” said the 6’0″ 195-pound junior. “Then someone got hurt in the playoffs last year so they moved me to fullback, just to see how it would go. Ever since then, I have been playing fullback. Blocking has always been my strength, so it went well. I picked up linebacker during high school.”
This winter, Taylor put a focus on football.
“I have played basketball, but I took this year off so I could have a lifting season. I have been lifting and doing speed training. Three days a week I lift at school – we do a little bit of everything. Twice a week, I do speed training.”
This spring, he will play lacrosse.
“I play lacrosse mostly for fun,” Taylor told northstarfootballnews.com. “I don’t have a big role on the team. I play defense.”
When focused on football, he is concentrating on the defensive side of the ball.
“I feel like I need to get better in man coverage. I have been working on that a lot. I have been watching a lot of film – trying to understand where to be and when.”
This summer, he will be going to camps, but he does not know where or when.
“I am going to go to as many camps as I can. I know for sure I am going to go to a University of North Dakota camp.”
Area DII and DIII schools want Taylor to attend their junior days.
“I have not personally talked to any coaches, but I have junior day invites to Moorhead, Duluth, Eu Claire, Bemidji State, St. Johns, and Northern State.”
Based on the issues the Knights had last season, Taylor expects to have a smaller role next season.
“I don’t think the coaches want me starting both ways next year,” Taylor explained. “Last year we started a lot of guys both ways and most of us ended up getting injured. I am pretty sure I will be starting at linebacker and playing part-time at fullback.”
Hopefully, Taylor and the entire team have a healthier 2020 season.