Commitment 101: Dadrian Taylor

UTSA hosted its first summer camp under the new administration and it paid off with one commitment. Shiner (TX) athlete Dadrian Taylor became the Roadrunners eighth commitment in the 2017 recruiting class. The focus placed on recruiting by first-year head coach Frank Wilson and his staff is something the UTSA community is yet to experience. Taylor is a small-town athlete the previous pass balked on in recent years. Here is his Commitment 101.

Skillset:

Shiner athlete Dadrian Taylor is the type of player a staff gets to campus and then figures out a position for later, and that’s a good thing. His versatility is what makes him an intriguing prospect, bordering on three-star status for Rivals.com. Taylor excels in almost every facet of the game. The soon-to-be senior was a monster at running back for Shiner as a junior. He was the district’s offensive MVP after racking up 1,684 yards and 31 touchdowns on only 151 carries. That’s an 11.9 rushing average. Taylor isn’t just an offensive weapon, though. He also recorded 49 tackles and three interceptions in the Shiner secondary.

At 5-foot-11, he does have the size and length to play defense at the FBS level. Taylor is a skinnier running back, suggesting he either needs to pack on some weight to become a three-down running back at the next level. His electricity is hard to ignore and I’m sure an argument between the offensive and defensive staff will take place (or has already taken place) for his services.

Taylor can be an instant contributor as a kick and punt returner. He could be used as a third-down back until he grows into a player who can handle 15 carries a game. The staff could also use him in a hybrid role at slot receiver, moving him to running back on obvious passing downs. Or, UTSA could see him as a potential star on the defensive side of the ball. With Taylor’s length, athleticism and raw speed, it is easy to see him making the switch to cornerback or even free safety.

Immediate Impact:

It’s hard to gauge Taylor’s ability to step on campus and make a push for playing time without his role being established. His quickest way towards getting on the field would be on offense, and I’m hearing that’s where he is likely to begin his career. The coaching staff wants explosiveness at the skill positions and Taylor is nothing short of explosive. He’s the type of player UTSA is hunting for – someone who can score anytime the ball lands in his hands. That could be as a returner, a ball carrier or a receiver out of the backfield. It’s unfair to expect a true freshman to immediately earn significant time at running back or wide receiver, but Taylor might be too big of a weapon to not use in certain situations early in his career.

Fitting into the program:

Players like Taylor can fall through the cracks. He doesn’t have eye-popping size or stature. He isn’t the fastest kid in the state, which by no means is calling him slow. He plays at a small school, which keeps the amount of recruiters passing by campus down in most instances. He doesn’t exactly have a straight-forward position in college. Most staffs don’t take the chances on those type of players (the previous staff didn’t) and it usually comes back to haunt those staffs. Taylor is a football player, plain and simple. Wilson wants athletes and Taylor is a small-town athlete in an area UTSA can really exploit if given the proper attention.

Recruiting at the position:

For now, let’s assume Taylor is a running back when he steps on campus. UTSA holds a commitment from Louisiana native Robert McKnight, who has a more stereotypical running style and build at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds. The two could be a complimentary duo for years to come in San Antonio. Both are explosive athletes who do damage in space and can catch out of the backfield. McKnight is the stronger of the two running backs, while Taylor is the one more likely to score from 80 yards out. UTSA could potentially be done at the position if Taylor is considered a true running back, but I think the Roadrunners wouldn’t mind signing one more ball carrier in this cycle.