Taylor picks Cowboys
Carl Albert defensive back/wide receiver Jason Taylor II has verbally committed to Oklahoma State. Taylor chose the Cowboys over Tulsa and SMU.
Jason Taylor II’s recruiting hadn’t quite broken through last winter when an Oklahoma State coach came to watch him in a Carl Albert basketball game.
Soon after, he had an offer.
And on Friday, he gave his verbal commitment to the Cowboys.
The 6-foot-2, 180pound safety picked OSU over Tulsa and SMU, announcing his decision Friday at J.D. Runnels’ Nutrition and Athletic Club of Choctaw.
Recruited as a defensive back by some schools and a receiver by others, Taylor didn’t have a preference which side of the ball he played at the next level. He just wanted to find the right program.
“OSU made me feel like home, and it was the best fit for me,” said Taylor, who is ranked No. 14 in The Oklahoman’s Super 30. “It’s close to home. It’s really all I could ask for. I just want a chance to play.
“They liked that I play basketball, because they say basketball players move better with their hips.”
More than anything, Carl Albert coach Mike Corley thinks Taylor’s knack for getting his hands on the ball will stand out in college.
“He’s got huge hands, he plays basketball. He’s just got those ball skills, and if he’s around the ball, he’s gonna catch it,” Corley said. “He just has a knack to be around the football.
“He’s got all the tools — the size, the speed, and those ball skills, and that’s what really separates him from other kids.”
Taylor becomes the 20th member of OSU’s 2018 recruiting class and the fifth defensive back.
He’s also the fifth instate prospect in the class.