Class of 2014 offensive tackle/offensive guard Christian Taylor (Lexington, S.C./White Knoll) already holds an early verbal scholarship offer from a BCS program and is getting plenty of additional attention.
Christian Taylor has played varsity football at White Knoll High in Lexington, S.C., since his freshman year.
The 6-foot-5, 340-pounder made an unofficial visit to North Carolina State in April and quickly the Wolfpack was first to issue a verbal offer.
“I had a great time getting escorted around up there by (Wolfpack head of high school relations) Chad Jamison,” he said. “He sort of hinted around that they were going to offer me. Then I got on the horn and called coach Jim Bridge and that’s when he told me he wanted to offer me. I was excited. Inside, I was jumping around, but I played it cool. He told my coach that he just wanted to be sure that I knew that was my first offer.”
Taylor says that he will likely weigh around 320 pounds during the season and has been timed as fast as 5.21 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He has a bench press max of 320 pounds, a squat max of 465 and currently he can dead-lift 520 pounds. He’s been playing varsity at White Knoll since his freshman year.
“I skipped playing JV or B team during my ninth grade year,” Taylor said. “I am only the third or fourth player in school history to do that. I wasn’t sure at first, but toward the end of last season I started getting better. In fact, I got better as the competition got better and believe that I have prepared myself for this upcoming season.
“I have learned and matured a lot from my sophomore year.”
In addition to N.C. State, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Duke, South Carolina, Georgia Tech and East Carolina all were by White Knoll this spring. Clemson also is showing strong interest as he was on campus for the Tigers spring game April 7.
“A lot of schools came by,” he said. “Tennessee and East Carolina both said they are going to offer me.”
White Knoll is located near Columbia, S.C., and Taylor has a tie to the University of South Carolina as well as a family ties to Clemson.
“I grew up and am a South Carolina fan,” he said. “My mom teaches at the University of South Carolina. Everybody in my family- my grandfather and other family mem went there. I partially pull for Clemson, though, because the packaging library at Clemson is named after my great grandfather. So I have connections to both programs. I am just keeping it open for right now.”
Taylor said that he hopes to camp at Wake Forest and South Carolina this summer and will probably take an unofficial visit to Clemson during the Tigers’ prospect camp.
There are several factors Taylor will weigh when evaluating college programs during the next two years.
“A team that plays as a family and that can play together at all times,” Taylor said. “(For example), when somebody is down they try to pick them up. They don’t try to badmouth them or say this and that. I want a school where I can get my academics and I can do what I want to do profession-wise in case I do get an injury and football doesn’t work out. Finally, just a school that I can feel comfortable with. I want to like the people and want a nice campus with good facilities. I don’t want to go to a school that doesn’t have good facilities.”
- JC Shurburtt
- Director of Recruiting - 247Sports