Top national linebacker Tyler Taylor is still wide open with the recruiting process. That could change at any moment.
The Sugar Hill (Ga.) Lanier linebacker and Rivals250 member has offers from all over the country, but he's hoping to narrow his list in the very near future. Unfortunately for Taylor, it won't be an easy process.
Key quote: "I’m really trying to do that in the next week or so, but I don’t know if that will happen," Taylor said. "A lot of schools are coming at me so that makes it hard trying to figure out which schools to narrow it down to."
The 6-3, 225-pound Taylor has been considering making a commitment over the summer, but at this point he's unsure if he'll be have his decision ready at that point or take the process into the fall.
Where Texas fits: Taylor took an unofficial visit to Texas in late May and the Longhorns are one of the programs drawing strong consideration.
"I think I’m pretty open right now. I do like Texas a lot," Taylor said. "I had a really deep man to man conversation with coach (Charlie) Strong and with my mom. I thought that was really cool."
During his UT visit, Taylor spent time talking to Strong, linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, strength and conditioning coach Pat Moorer. The environment of the entire Texas campus made an impression.
"Probably the community," Taylor said when asked what stood out about the visit. "I had a Texas shirt on, everywhere I went it was ‘Hook’Em Horns.’ I probably heard that like 20 times before I got on campus. I thought that was pretty cool."
Texas' sales pitch: The UT coaches stressed to Taylor that the Longhorn program is on the way up, and he'd have a chance to play early.
"They think they’re going to have a big year this year," Taylor said. "After this year, they’re going to need linebackers so it would be the perfect chance for me to come in and play early."
Plans for this summer: Taylor will have a busy summer, with trips planned to Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia.
I ask all the coaches and they say they really don’t know. If I stay my height, more than likely I’ll play inside but I do have the speed to play outside. If I grow a couple more inches, I’ll probably be outside.
Should he stay or should he go?: Taylor has a lot of top programs close to home that are in pursuit. Most have him pegged to stay in the Southeast, but Taylor said it's not set in stone that he'll attend college in that region.
"It is tough, but I’m kind of mixed on that right now. Sometimes I want to be far away from home, sometimes I want to be close to home," Taylor said. "I’m really used to it though because I used to play AAU basketball and we traveled all over the country all the time."
Taylor's mother will have a big influence on his decision, and he says she's open to the idea of him playing anywhere in the country if he finds the right fit.
"She’s going to support me whatever I do, if I stay close to home or go away. But she says it is good to go see different parts of the world," Taylor said.
