Name: Chase Taylor
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 213 lbs.
High school: Stockbridge (GA) Stockbridge
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #29
Last year: Taylor was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 62 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and 3 quarterback hurries.
TTB Rating: 58
Taylor was recruited to Michigan to play inside linebacker, and he committed when he was listed at 201 pounds. It takes a lot of projection to see a 201 lb. player and think he'll be a Big Ten inside linebacker, where the normal playing weight is anywhere from 235-245 pounds. Sometimes long and lean players are 200 pounds and can project to tight end or outside linebacker because they're 6'5" or 6'6" and have a lot of room for growth, but at 6'2" there's not quite as much real estate to add beef.
A true senior highlight reel could not be found for Taylor for the 2024 season, so there are a few highlights from a handful of games. Based on what I saw in those clips, I still think Taylor has a long way to go, even though MGoBlue now lists him at 213 pounds. Taylor seems a little bit slow to make plays, and he doesn't always finish tackles the way I'd like to see for a future Big Ten inside linebacker. He can at times come downhill, lower his hips, and make a solid impact, but those plays just seem too few and far between. Based upon those senior clips, I lowered Taylor's TTB Rating from 69 to 58, and I think he's a pretty surefire redshirt in 2024 since he's so light.
Prediction: Redshirt
Yep he should be alright if history is any indicator.
ReplyDeletehttps://247sports.com/player/ernest-hausmann-46110410/high-school-258783/
6'3 205
https://247sports.com/player/michael-barrett-91118/high-school-175062/
6'0 215
https://247sports.com/player/junior-colson-46082800/high-school-233249/
6'2 228
The 3 top LBs on the 2023 national champions averaged ~ 6'2 / 215 as recruits
Taylor as an early enrollee 6'2 213
Lets go through a timeline for Taylor & Hausman:
Taylor as a recruit 6'3 201
Hausmann as a recruit 6'3 205
Taylor as an early enrollee 6'2 213
Hausmann as a freshman 6'2 220
Hausman as a junior 6'2 235
Hausmann is a pretty direct example of the kind of physical maturity that you should see with Taylor (a similarly sized player at the same age). Keep in mind the kid just turned 18 in february -- it would be a shock if he didn't put on a lot of good weight after joining a college program. spring roster shows that's already happening and 20-30 more pounds should be the expectation.
Dunno if he has the talent to be an all conference player like EH but no worries about the size. He's pretty close to the prototype - don't even have to question it like with successful shorter ILBs like Bush, Ross, or Barrett.