Taylor hoping to aid staff any way he can

HOLLYWOOD — The Hurricanes have not yet announced former Miami Dolphins star Jason Taylor’s title for his off-field role with the team, but the Pro Football Hall of Famer, who spent the spring working with the Hurricanes, said he wants to help UM and coach Mario Cristobal any way he can.

“Whatever Mario decides,” Taylor said before his foundation’s Community Hall of Fame ceremony at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Saturday. “I’m a defensive analyst — whatever that means. I tell the players, I tell coaches I’m there to serve and help any way, shape or form that I can, I’m there to help.”

The Jason Taylor Foundation inducted former Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning as its celebrity honoree, Allen Milam (the owner of the grocery chain Milam’s Market) as its corporate honoree and Taylor Richardson (a Jacksonville student who founded a book drive that donated more than 10,000 books) as its youth honoree on Saturday.

“Some people say you have an obligation to do it, you should help pay it forward, all those things,” Taylor said. “Those are all great. We do it because it’s a passion of ours. It’s not a job . ... We enjoy it. We feel honored to be able to help.”

Taylor, who previously worked as an assistant coach at South Florida high school powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, said his first spring on a college staff went well.

“I enjoyed the whole thing,” Taylor said. “It was great. Working for Mario has been fantastic. He is as advertised. He’s intense. He’s determined. He’s focused . ... I think he does a very good job. I know it’s my first time through the college ranks, coaching. We had a really good spring, and I think we’re trying to instill the culture. We’re building the culture and what Hurricane football should be and will be, hopefully, sooner rather than later.”

Taylor had kind words for the the on-field coaches he is working with in Coral Gables and said they work well togehter.

“We’ve got a really strong group, defensive staff,” Taylor said. “We’ve got some heavy hitters in there with coach (Kevin) Steele, obviously Charlie Strong and Jahmile Addae and Joe (Salave’a) and Rod Wright.”

Although Taylor is in an off-field role now, he did not rule out further pursuing a career in college coaching.

“Of course, I love being home in Miami, but listen, we’re always progressing, right?” Taylor said. “Never want to stay the same. So we’ll see where it takes us.”