Prospect Profiles
Sean TaylorPosition: Free safety
College: Miami (Fla.)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 231
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Analysis |
Agility |
High School |
Personal OVERVIEW
The prototype for a
free safety, blessed with the quickness of a cover cornerback and the size of a strong-side linebacker … Has a rare combination of size, speed, strength and agility … Taylor is a brutally hard hitter who also displays excellent skills as a coverage man and in run support … A standout in the tradition of former UM safeties Edward Reed and Bennie Blades … In 34 games, he recorded 188 tackles (130 solos) with a 4-yard sack, seven stops for losses of 21 yards and two pressures … Also blocked two kicks … Intercepted 14 passes for 306 yards in returns (21.9 avg.) and three touchdowns … His 14 pass thefts rank fourth on the school's career list, behind Fred Marion (16, 1978-81), Bennie Blades (19, 1984-87) and Ed Reed (21, 1999-2001) … Only Reed (389) gained more yards on interception returns in school history … Added eight punt returns for 154 yards (19.3 avg.) and a score, 86 yards on three kickoff returns (28.7 avg.) and also scored on a 47-yard reception.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a tall, muscular frame with long arms, valid hands and excellent field vision … Will strike with tremendous force and shows classic wrap-up tackling technique, staying low in his pads with a wide leg base to stalk and secure … Can plant and drive instantly breaking out his backpedal, using his long legs to stay stride-for-stride with receivers in the deep zone … Shows discipline in man coverage and does not waste time peeking in at the quarterback … Has enough foot speed to challenge any receiver on deep routes … Natural and smooth in transition, taking no wasted steps in his motion … Will challenge receivers going up for the ball, timing his leaps to get to the pigskin at its high point … Does a very good job of getting his hands on his opponent, using a strong hand jolt to knock the receiver off stride … Can recognize and react with force when asked to help in run support … Has large, natural hands and a knack for making the big interception that will change the complexion of the game … Very effective covering on vertical routes and quickly sees plays develop in front of him … Extends his arms and drives with his legs to drive ball carriers back when filling the rush lanes … Despite his wide frame, he makes plays laterally that few free safeties have the range to make.
Negatives: Has good flexibility, but appears a little stiff in his upper body when having to turn suddenly on the ball … Fine wrap-up tackler, but will get too aggressive at times, relying on his strength to punish a receiver rather than just bring him down (causes him to slip off a few tackles) … Gets a little too confident in himself and needs to continue his maturity process.
AGILITY TESTS
4.45 in the 40-yard dash … 365-pound bench press … 34½-inch vertical jump.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Gulliver (Miami, Fla.) Academy, playing football for coach Steve Howie … Rated the No. 7 prospect in Dade County by the
Miami Herald, the nation's No. 18 skill athlete by
SuperPrep (also a
SuperPrep All-American) the No. 23 overall prospect in Florida by
SuperPrep and was an
Orlando Sentinel Super Southern Team selection … Listed as the No. 1 athlete on the
Florida Times-Union Super 75 list and the No. 14 player in Florida by the
Gainesville Sun … Accounted for three touchdowns (two receiving, one rushing) in the state title game victory over Marianna … Teammate of quarterback and fellow UM signee Buck Ortega … Helped lead Gulliver to the Florida Class 2A State Championship in 2000 … Was a star on both sides of the ball in 2000, as he rushed for 1,300 yards and a state-record 44 touchdowns … Played running back, defensive back and linebacker … Rushed for more than 200 yards twice during Gulliver's state playoff run … Racked up more than 100 tackles during the 2000 season … Displayed excellent hands as a receiver.
PERSONAL
Criminology major … Son of Donna Junor and Pedro Taylor … Born Sean Michael Taylor on April 1, 1983 … Resides in Miami, Fla.
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