Three December officials planned for Florida three-star WR Jamar Taylor
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
You got to love when a plan comes together. Over at Lakeland High School (Fla.), a plan has come together in a big way for senior receiver Jamar Taylor. Taylor (6-1, 190) is leading a potent Dreadnaughts offense against 4S competition turning scouting eyes towards the three-star. The process is still wide open for Taylor, but three December paid for trips have been earmarked.
The Dreadnaughts have spread the pigskin around the offense with four targets in double digit receptions. Taylor leads the way across the board with 34 passes hauled in for 472 yards with six touchdowns.
“The season has been going great,” Taylor stated. “My coach is seeing my potential and utilizing me. He is putting me outside and in the slot. He is finding ways to get me the ball.”
Turning on the film, Taylor’s abilities to move the chains downfield jump off the screen.
“My deep routes have improved,” Taylor said. “I have gotten way faster. They have utilized me on deep routes. If I am in a one-on-one situation, they will give me a chance, and I will make the play. When the ball is in the air, it is my ball.”
Lakeland has worked through a tough schedule this season with one regular-season game left to play. Some of the top game performances were covered.
“I’d say Miami Norland or George Jenkins were my best games,” Taylor shared. “I scored two in the Jenkins game with 100-plus yards. That was a game in the first half.
College programs have extended 21 offers to the three-star prospect with heavy Power Five interest still coming Taylor’s way.
“Penn State, they Facetimed while at practice and FSU has been coming at me hard,” Taylor said. “With Penn State, I am competing against one of their other recruits. We’ve been competing for that one spot. FSU has hit me up, Rutgers called my guidance counselor today, and Cincinnati just hit me up. Minnesota is asking for my film every week.”
Two unofficial stops could happen before season’s end.
“I am planning on going to a Penn State game and a Pitt game,” Taylor stated. “I don’t have a date set yet; I have to pick the game.”
Looking down the line, three official stops are penciled on the schedule.
“I am taking all of my official visits in December,” Taylor shared. “I am going to Toledo, Temple, and Pitt. More schools have been hitting me up. Those three were planned over the summer. With more schools hitting me up, more opportunities are coming. I am waiting patiently.”
On the opportunity to head to Happy Valley for a game, Taylor spoke about his interest in the Nittany Lions.
“Man, the opportunity,” Taylor said. “Penn State is a big school. They are doing their thing this year, even off the Ohio State loss. If that opportunity comes my way, I want to compete for a spot as a true freshman. When they see what I can do, they will see people can’t stop me.”
Taylor gave insight into the three teams ready to host him on an official.
Pitt: “They’ve always been there. They’ve been there since my sophomore year. They have been showing me the love and they have believed in me no matter what I was going through.”
Toledo: “Them boys love me. Toledo and Temple are both high on me, they feel that I can play as a true freshman. Temple sees me starting right away. Their head coach (Jason Candle) just texted me on Twitter.”
Temple: “Their head coach (Stan Drayton), I feel like I have a man-to-man connection with him that is deeper than football. He thinks I should go into business finance because I am good with numbers. I told my guidance counselor about that because I am good with math.
“If I went to Temple, I’d go up there and work for my spot. All their coaches, their running backs, tight end, receivers, and DB coaches – all of their coaches are text me. They are trying to get me bad. They call my coach multiple times a week. One of Temple’s coaches, coach (Jafar) Williams (WR), is coming to see me on Friday. I think he is flying down on Thursday.”
With coach Williams coming down to see him in action, Taylor was asked what that means to him on a personal level.
“That lets me know I am big to them,” Taylor said. “They really want me; they really think I would be a good player for their team and think I can help them out.”
Taylor spoke about his overall recruiting mindset when looking at any program.
“I am for whoever is for me, I am about them,” Taylor shared. “Whever the love is, that is where I am going. Wherever they are seeing me for more than a football player who is catching the ball and scoring touchdowns, that is where I am going.”
*Photo provided by KAPBYKA