The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Running back Taylor leaves NDC
The Tabyus Taylor era at Notre Dame College ended as fast as it began. Taylor, a senior transfer running back from Virginia Union, recently departed from the Falcons’ football program.
The Tabyus Taylor era at Notre Dame College ended as fast as it began.
Taylor, a senior transfer running back from Virginia Union, recently departed from the Falcons’ football program with the hopes of signing with an NFL team after the justcompleted draft in Cleveland last weekend.
Unfortunately for Taylor, he has yet to sign with a team, according to NDC coach Mickey Mental.
“And unfortunately, he’s out of eligibility,” said Mental, who added Taylor signed with an agent prior to the draft.
Taylor left the program because of a family situation but the short time between the end of the Falcons’ spring season — April 17 — and the April 29-May 1 draft was likely a factor in him not generating interest.
Taylor was originally expected to play in the fall of 2021 thanks to an NCAA waiver that granted players an extra year of eligibility because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Taylor’s short time at NDC during the spring won’t be forgotten. He was named the Mountain East Conference Offensive Player of the Year. In just five games, Taylor — originally a Virginia Tech recruit before landing at Division
II Virginia Union and then NDC — rushed for 1,040 yards and averaged a whopping 9.7 yards per carry. At 6-foot, 225 pounds, Taylor could bulldoze his way through defenders and run away from them.
He rushed for 12 touchdowns and added another on a 95-yard kickoff return as the Falcons won the MEC for the third straight season. In three seasons at Virginia Union, Taylor rushed for 2,798 yards and 31 touchdowns.
The question for next fall will be who will be NDC’s lead back. Expected to get the first crack at the starter’s
job includes Jalen Boyd and Rob Singletary, plus others. That might be the only question for Mental and his staff as they will enjoy a bevy of talented players set to return.
Minus Taylor, a whopping 21 NDC players were named either first- or second-team all-conference when the MEC announced its postseason awards. Mental — in his first season as a head coach — was named MEC Coach of the Year.
Among those named to the first team included receiver and Willoughby South grad Devenaire Conliffe, offensive linemen
Jimmy Burchett and Brandon Nicholson, tight end Zaire Mitchell and linebackers Guam Lee and Nate Moore. All will be back in the spring.
With all that talent and more returning in the fall, hopes will be high for Mental’s team, which opens the season at home against Ashland. There might even be talk of the Falcons as D-II national championship contenders.
“We’re excited, and it all starts Week 1,” said Mental. “Ashland is a great program, and we can’t wait for what should be a great atmosphere that day.”