So when did he think he might be named Mr. Football?
Warren County High School quarterback C.J. Taylor had two answers to that question following the Rotary Club of McMinnville meeting Thursday afternoon.
“When did I think I had it, or when did I know I had it?” asked C.J.
Well both.
“I thought I had a good chance of getting it after the Blackman game,” said C.J. “I knew I would get it after the Oakland game. To do what I did against that team, after that I thought, ‘I’m the guy.’”
Taylor rushed for 203 yards and a TD against Oakland as the Pioneers gave the No. 1 team in the state their best game of the season. Down 28-20, the Pioneers had the ball to start the fourth quarter in Oakland territory, but the Patriots were able to prevail, 36-20. Oakland won the 6A state championship on Saturday.
“We were the closest anybody came to them all year,” WCHS coach Matt Turner told Rotarians. “I’d love to have that shot again.”
Taylor became the first Warren County player to be named Mr. Football when he was awarded the honor Tuesday at Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans. He won the honor for class 6A, the largest classification in Tennessee.
“He’s the best football player in the state,” said coach Turner. “He’s the best player in the highest classification. I feel like there are a lot of people in our community who don’t understand the level of football we’re playing.”
Taylor rushed for 307 yards and 5 TDs against Blackman, a performance which got the Mr. Football talk in full swing. Taylor said he had extra motivation for that game.
“I woke up that morning to a text message from a Blackman player that said we sucked,” said C.J. “At that point it became personal. The guy who sent the text had hurt me when we played our sophomore year. He said that he was coming for me, that I’m not as good as everyone was saying.”
Taylor admitted it was an odd feeling to stand on stage holding an enormous trophy declaring him Mr. Football.
“It was like, I’m not done yet,” said C.J. “This is not the end of it. I have a whole lot more I want to do.”
Taylor has made a verbal commitment to Vanderbilt University. Shortly after he made that commitment, the Commodores fired their head coach. C.J. is waiting to see who the new coach will be before finalizing.
