Warren County already knows all about CJ Taylor. The rest of the SEC is starting to figure him out too.
The rising junior and leader of the Vanderbilt Commodore defense is garnering plenty of pub going into the 2023 season, with Pro Football Focus tabbing the safety as preseason Second Team All-SEC. He was the only Commodore to be named to any of three teams by PFF.
Taylor is coming off a truly impactful year for Vandy, highlighted by scoring a TD in his team’s season-opening win in Hawaii and making it to No. 1 on SportsCenter’s top plays with a strip-sack and fumble recovery for a touchdown against Missouri.
After making 59 tackles (seven for loss), sealing a win over Kentucky with an interception and scoring twice as a sophomore, Taylor is ready to take it to another level as a full-time starter and star SEC player.
“Being recognized as an All SEC player comes with a lot of weight. You are put in a category with very few people and people acknowledge that,” said Taylor, the 2020 Mr. Football for Warren County. “At that point, people are going to want to give you their best to measure themselves against you. I have to bring it every day whether it is in the meeting room or on the field because someone is looking to prove themselves against me day in and day out.
“I’ve always been the type of guy that liked pressure and I haven’t changed and this ‘All SEC label’ isn’t going to change the way I approach the game in any way. There is a saying that pressure busts pipes - I’m built for that type of stuff and that comes from my mom and my dad teaching me from an early age that I can’t let someone take what’s mine and I’ve worked hard to have what’s in front of me so that’s what I lean on when I’m in battle during practice.”
Local fans knew Taylor was a star in the making when he led the Pioneers to their first winning season in 30 years as a senior in 2020. He had to prove himself again after signing at Vandy, where he immediately flipped from being a playmaking QB with the ball in his hands at all times to a ball-hawking safety that doesn’t mind making big hits.
Taylor made a huge leap as a sophomore and hopes to build on that success this fall after putting in the work to get his body ready for the rigors of big-time SEC football.
“I’m doing a lot of rehab and trying to bulk up this summer to make sure my body can withstand a long SEC schedule where we play the best of the best every weekend," said Taylor.
Taylor already showed he could make an impact in the SEC last year, making nine tackles in a start at Alabama and recording a career-best 10 tackles when the Commodores beat Florida 31-24. Making big plays against the best competition is all Taylor has ever wanted and he's ready to star - and emerge as a leader - this year.
"I’ve dreamed of starting in the SEC my entire life and I got a taste of that last year with starting eight out 12 games,” said Taylor, who recorded nine tackles when he was put into the starting lineup against Alabama last year. “This year, I’m looking to become more of a vocal leader on the defense. Last year, I was more of the guy that made plays but didn’t really talk when it came to the progression of the offense. Being a mentor this summer to the early enrollees in my position groups has deepened my knowledge at my position to where I’m confident about knowing my job and my teammate’s jobs around me.”
Taylor and the Commodores will make their season debut Saturday, Aug. 26 at home against Hawaii.
