Players quickly grow comfortable around Taggart
TALLAHASSEE — The 2017 season has been an emotional roller coaster for the Florida State football team. The last few days might have brought the biggest lows and highs yet.
First, the Seminoles found out the head coach who recruited them would leave to take a job at another school.
One day later, they rallied around assistant coach Odell Haggins, who served as interim head coach for the regular-season finale against ULM and will be in charge for the bowl game.
Then, a few days after that, they were introduced to their new full-time head coach, Willie Taggart.
“At first, we were down,” junior defensive tackle Demarcus Christmas said. “But we’re back up again. We were happy with what we received (in a new head coach) . ... Everybody’s just ready to move forward and start playing football again.”
FSU’s players displayed their acceptance of Taggart with a standing ovation at their first meeting, and it apparently only got better from there.
Although he isn’t actually coaching the team yet — Taggart is focused on salvaging the Seminoles’ 2018 recruiting class and putting together his coaching staff — he has made a fast impression on his new players.
They say they like his energy and the way he connects with them on a personal level.
Sophomore defensive back Levonta Taylor described the 41-year-old Taggart as more “new school,” compared to the “old school” approach of former head coach Jimbo Fisher.
“I just liked the way he connected to every player,” Taylor said. “I just can’t wait to actually get to know him more as a person and to see how he coaches on the field.”
Taggart’s ultra-positive personality is one of the reasons he is known as one of the nation’s top recruiters. Haggins, who already has been out to visit several recruits with the Seminoles’ new head coach, said it doesn’t take long to see why.
“Coach is a great guy, man. He’s fun to be around,” Haggins said. “Last night, I was on the road with him recruiting. Had a great time with him, man. He’s a unique guy in the living room. He goes out, he’s honest, he’s sincere, and he’s very authentic talking to the parents.”
FSU hasn’t landed any new commitments since Taggart took over, but the Seminoles have been able to lock down some prospects who were wavering.
Linebacker Amari Gainer, offensive lineman Christian Armstrong and defensive tackle Robert Cooper confirmed they were shutting down their recruitments after visits from Taggart.
“He’s just himself, and the kids felt comfortable,” Haggins said. “That’s the key. Feeling comfortable with the new head ball coach.”
First hire: Taggart made his first hire since becoming the Seminoles’ coach. He is bringing in Florida native Telly Lockette, his former assistant coach, to help with the offense, Tomahawk Nation reported Wednesday. Lockette won three state championships as coach at Miami Central (where he coached future FSU stars Dalvin Cook and Devonta Freeman) and was an assistant for Taggart at South Florida before serving as running backs coach at Oregon State the past two seasons.