davion taylor spring practice 2019
Colorado's Davion Taylor (20) is wearing a new number this year and appears ready to play the "hybrid" position on Colorado's defense.
Photo by: Andy Schlichting

Buffs' Taylor Appears Ready To Fill Defense's Hybrid Spot

March 21, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk

BOULDER — When Colorado head coach Mel Tucker served as defensive coordinator at Georgia, the Bulldogs had a "star" back on their defensive depth chart.

The star back is basically a nickel back who also holds linebacker responsibilities, a hybrid position that required the speed and cover skills of a defensive back and the physical nature of a linebacker.

While the position hasn't been given a name yet in Boulder as Tucker and defensive coordinator Tyson Summers build the Buffs' defense, there is already little doubt as to who has a good chance of filling that role: CU senior Davion Taylor.

Taylor, of course, played a similar position last year at Colorado, the "Buff" back devised by former defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt. Such positions are becoming more and more popular in college football, as teams find players who can drop into pass coverage when necessary and still make plays against the run game.

Taylor performed those duties at a high level last year, his first in Colorado after transferring in from Coahoma Community College. Taylor stepped into a starting role almost immediately, and finished with 75 tackles, including a team-high 62 unassisted; one sack and a team-high 11 additional tackles for loss; 11 third-down stops; two pass breakups; and two fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown.

This spring, he appears poised to fit into a similar role this year, as he has been working at the hybrid spot in Colorado's first two practices.

"He's a guy that has tremendous speed, has good size, very athletic and a guy that can do a lot of different things for us," Tucker said after Wednesday's practice. "Position versatility is how I would describe him. I'm excited about what he can do."

Taylor, though, isn't taking anything for granted. Tucker has made it clear he is taking a "clean slate" approach, meaning every position is open and up for grabs — even those at which players were the regular starter last season.

"Me personally I like it — it's like a challenge to me," Taylor said. "I know I have to prove myself all over again. I have to work harder, I have to prove it to them. They don't know anything from last year and I like that. It just makes me work harder."

One thing that has also already become apparent this spring is that the practice tempo has jumped up a notch or two. Players run from drill to drill (as do coaches), and they are moving from the beginning to end of every play.

Nobody relaxes.

"The intensity is way higher than last year," Taylor said. "It's testing all of our characters and seeing what we can do."

The Buffs will have one more practice this week — Friday — then take next week off for spring break. They will return to work Monday, April 1, and practice three times each week throughout the month before the April 27 spring game at Folsom Field.

For Taylor, spring is a time to not only impress his new coaches, but also soak up as much of the new defense as he possibly can, from terminology to technique to responsibilities.

"Just really getting better," he said. "Getting stronger, getting faster, working on techniques, getting ready for fall camp. Getting in shape — every little thing we fix right now in the spring so when fall comes we have little to no mistakes."

It is also a time when every Buff on the field has a chance to prove they deserve some playing time.

"We all compete and we all compete for a spot," Taylor said. "Nobody has a starting spot. It makes us all work harder knowing we have to prove ourselves. It's going to help this team be great."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu











 

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