Countdown to 2020 IUFB Kickoff: Two Days (Reese Taylor)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Game day is only two days away! This is not a drill…in just two days, the Indiana Hoosiers will finally kick off the 2020 season as they take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in Bloomington on Saturday. Our penultimate Hoosier Huddle Countdown feature today focuses Reese Taylor.

Name – Reese Taylor

Position – Defensive Back (Junior)

Hometown – Indianapolis, IN (Ben Davis High School)

Height – 5’11”

Weight – 185 pounds

It takes a lot to be considered one of the all-time greats at a place like Ben Davis High School. The Giants are a football powerhouse located in Indianapolis and the school has an incredibly rich heritage but Reese Taylor had a high school career that stands up next to most anyone to ever play for Ben Davis. He was a quarterback that set records for passing yards (7,631) and passing touchdowns (79) and added 2,077 rushing yards with 45 rushing touchdowns. That is a ridiculous amount of production in a very difficult conference. Taylor initially came to Indiana as an offensive threat that took his initial time at running back and wide receiver.

He played in all 12 games of the 2018 season and saw some time as a kickoff returner, a cornerback, a running back and a wideout. Taylor wanted to make the switch permanently to defensive back and that occurred prior to the 2019 season. He was raw but his experience as a quarterback and wide receiver gave him some insight into how to defend the pass. Taylor started to come on late in the season, earning a start against Purdue and totaling 13 tackles, one for a loss, one interception and a pair of pass breakups.

With more experience and seasoning at the position, Taylor enters the 2020 season as one of the primary competitors for snaps on the other side of Tiawan Mullen. Larry Tracy and Jaylin Williams are the other main guys for that spot and all of them will play significant snaps. Taylor is also listed as the team’s punt returner (along with Whop Philyor), a position he could provide a major impact.