Tag: Air Force Academy

5 interesting facts about Raiders Round 7 S Trey Taylor

Getting to know Raiders Round 7 S Trey Taylor

It seemed hard to believe the Raiders were able to land the reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner in the middle of the seventh round, but they did. At pick 223, they ended the long way for Trey Taylor, making him their seventh selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

We know he was a tackle machine at Air Force, collecting 205 tackles over three seasons. Along with improving his interceptions numbers each year, literally going from 1-2-3 and adding a pick six and a blocked PAT last season.

Now let’s learn a bit more about him, beyond the stats.

  1. Football education early

Trey’s father Tyree played linebacker at SMU (1995-98) and was his football coach when he was a kid. So, Trey was learning football plays at the age of six. “At six years old he had me on the field studying film and I grew a love of football just out of that,” Trey said.

Trey’s father helped influence his decision to go to Air Force as well. With Tyree saying “If I had to do it all over again and I had similar offers, I would have gone to Air Force, and I wanted that for Trey.”

Tyree would get the chance to watch his son in a bowl game at the stadium of his college alma mater in 2021 when the Falcons faced Louisville in the First Responders Bowl at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

  1. Hall of Fame bloodlines

Tayler is cousins with Ed Reed, who is widely considered one of the greatest safeties to ever play the game and was a first ballot Hall of Famer. And Trey Frequently leans on Reed for critiques on his safety play., which he calls “essential” to his football career so far.

“It’s been nice to have somebody who gives me the best communication possible,” Taylor said of Reed. “He’s given me a lot of clues, a lot of details and things that I need going into this next chapter, in this next way of life, and I’m just happy to be here and happy to have him as somebody in my corner.”

  1. Why Air Force?

Trey got a lot of offers coming out of high school, including from several Ivy League programs like Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard and Yale. So, clearly he was an academic standout. But Taylor wanted more. Or what his father called “the trifecta” 

“You get to get a world-class education, you get to serve the country, and then you get to play high-level D1 football in the Mountain West conference.” Trey’s grandfather was in the Army and his great grandfather was in the Air Force.

“The Academy taught me a lot about myself,” Trey added. “It taught me a lot about who I really am, the maturity I have as a person, taught me how to grow, how to spread my wings and made me the person I am today. So, I give everything I got back to the Academy and what it’s done for me. I wouldn’t be here without it, so I’m really happy I chose that.”

  1. Lucky number 7

Trey wore the number 7 at Air Force. He also wore 27 at the East West Shrine Bowl. The first time he had a chance to pick a number was in youth soccer and he picked number seven, saying “It felt good on me.” And he’s stuck with it whenever possible ever since.

“Whatever team I get to, they can put me in seven, 17, 27, 37, 97, I don’t care,” he said before the draft. “If it has a seven, I’m happy.”

The number 7 for the Raiders is taken by another Tre – fellow safety (and Jim Thorpe Award winner) Tre’von Moehrig. So, Taylor picked the number 37 as his first NFL number.

  1. What’s in the box

Taylor played mostly free safety at Air Force. And while he said he can play deep as well as close to the line, he said he feels most comfortable up close, which is where you most often see the strong safety.

“I like being in the box,” said Taylor. “The box is where I feel the most comfortable. I feel like I can make more plays. I just like being closer to the ball. When they move me down, I feel like a little linebacker sometimes.”

Raiders 7th round S Trey Taylor says he brings ‘killer on the field’ instinct from Air Force academy to NFL

Raiders 7th round S Trey Taylor says he brings ‘killer on the field’ instinct from Air Force academy to NFL

With the draft in it’s final round, the Raiders were looking to add some intangibles to their team. To get it, they snapped up Trey Taylor out of the Air Force Academy.

In talking with Taylor after the draft, there was no question he has a good head on his shoulders and it serves him on the football field.

“The ability to serve while playing football and while studying at one of the most prestigious schools in America, like you can’t really pass up that opportunity,” said Taylor. “So, I’m glad I landed there. And the Academy taught me a lot about myself. It taught me a lot about who I really am, the maturity I have as a person, taught me how to grow, how to spread my wings and made me the person I am today.”

Taylor won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top safety. And he did so in part by being a big hitter. Evidenced by his 205 tackles over three seasons for the Falcons. That’s the energy the Raiders want him to bring with him.

“I’m a killer on the field,” Taylor added. “I have a different instinct when I get on the field and I brought that from the Academy, and I’m hoping to bring it onto this team. And I feel like there’s a lot of people who have the same mentality on that team. So, definitely ready to go take on that identity.”

That energy will help him right away on special teams as well. As a Navy man, I can get past him choosing Air Force for school.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 80, Air Force DB Trey Taylor

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Air Force defensive back Trey Taylor.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.

With Darnell Savage Jr, Jonathan Owens and Rudy Ford all set to hit the open market this offseason, the Green Bay Packers will need to invest heavily in the safety position. Even if the Packers opt to re-sign one of those three, Brian Gutekunst needs to make it a priority to add more talent to that room.

A player that Gutekunst could target on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft is Trey Taylor. The Air Force safety checks in at No. 80 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown. 

After redshirting in 2019 and opting out of the 2020 COVID-19 season, Taylor has started 36 games over the past three seasons for the Air Force Academy. During his first season as a starter in 2021, Taylor recorded 62 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and five pass deflections. The following season Taylor recorded 69 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions.

This past season Taylor took home the Jim Thorpe award after he recorded 74 tackles, five tackles for loss, three interceptions and four pass deflections. 

“My time at the Academy taught me how to be a leader of leaders, and to look after my family on and off the field,” Taylor said. “There were difficult times in the journey but leaning on loved ones and the guys I was going to battle with every day in the classroom, on the field, or in military training was eye-opening for me.”

Taylor has loose movements and showcases adequate range. He’s a cerebral player with the route instincts to arrive when the ball does. He has a heightened sense of what’s going on around him and takes proper angles. He’s a great communicator on the back end and is rarely out of position. 

“My ability to diagnose quarterback intentions early in the down from film or instincts and make plays on or around the ball,” Taylor said. “I have a nose for the ball.”

Taylor has the range to play centerfield, he also has the short-area quickness, fluidity and toughness to man the slot position. During his three years as a starter, Taylor logged 379 snaps in the slot for the Air Force. 

“I have a lot of background playing in the slot,” Taylor said. “I feel like I am very versatile and can cover slot receivers down the field very well. I can come down and make tackles while also having the ability to drop back to deep coverage.”

A relative of Ed Reed, Taylor showcases plus ball skills. He trusts his field vision and takes proper angles to the ball to get into position to make a play. 

“Six interceptions with one drop, but I do feel like my ball skills are at the top of this class,” Taylor said. “I can track down the ball with good range when it is in the air in any part of the field and I can also make plays in the air, not always on my feet.”

Taylor is active coming downhill against the run. He does a good job of slithering his way around blocks to find the ball carrier. 

“I feel like my biggest strength is coming down and helping in run support,” Taylor said. “I love playing in the box and I feel like I’m extremely effective playing alongside linebackers and communicating with them as well when run fits.”

During his collegiate career, Taylor logged 334 snaps on special teams and recorded four tackles. Taylor is confident that he could be a core special teams player during his rookie season. 

“I do know immediately as a rookie I could make a huge impact on special teams,” Taylor said. “I’m confident in any role they put me in but special teams and it’s something that I feel as if I have shined in that phase during my time in college. It’s a skill set that can be directly brought into the NFL.”

Fit with the Packers

Green Bay needs to rebuild its safety room. It’s a position that was arguably the weakest on the roster this past season. It’s a room that needs an infusion of talent. 

While he may not be a day-one starter, Taylor could provide an immediate impact on special teams while providing quality depth in the secondary. He’s a disciplined player that improved each season and if he cracks the starting lineup, he’s the type of player that won’t give that job back.

He’s a factor coming downhill against the run. He has the ball skills and playmaking ability that’s desperately needed and he has the versatility to man the slot position.

With the Packers projected to have six Day 3 picks, Taylor could be a target with one of those selections as Gutekunst looks to build the team’s safety room. 

“I’ll bring a level of leadership and experience that can be utilized immediately,” Taylor said. “I’m great in the locker room, I come with no trouble, and I make the team a better team with my addition. I’m going to do whatever for my team to win and there’s no pride here, just work ethic and my will to win.”

Rob Gronkowski skydives from 11,000 feet on FOX pregame show

Rob Gronkowski with an amazing stunt on FOX Sports NFL pregame show

Rob Gronkowski is willing to do anything, it seems. And after his act on Sunday’s FOX Sports “NFL Pregame Show,” no one will doubt him.

For Veterans Day, FOX Sports did its show from the Air Force Academy.

And the former great tight end took off and was part of a skydiving segment from 11,000 feet.

Gronkowski said he needed a nudge from his tandem partner before leaving the plane.

After three taps or so, Gronk was off and he safely landed.

2022 Saints draft pick Jordan Jackson signs with the Broncos

Jordan Jackson spent his rookie year on the Saints practice squad after New Orleans picked him in the 2022 draft. Now he’s signed with the Broncos in search of a fresh start:

That’s not the best use of a draft pick, but we’ve seen worse from the New Orleans Saints. KUSA 9 Denver’s Mike Klis reports that the Denver Broncos have signed defensive tackle Jordan Jackson to a reserve/future deal after his practice squad contract expired with New Orleans. The Saints drafted Jackson in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft out of the Air Force Academy but stashed him on the practice squad for his entire rookie year, never calling him up for a game.

It’s a bit surprising given the only defensive tackle the Saints have under contract for 2023 is Prince Emili, who joined Jackson on the practice squad last season. It shouldn’t be hard for New Orleans to re-sign free agents like Shy Tuttle, Kentavius Street, and Malcolm Roach, and they should be able to cut a deal with veteran starter David Onyemata, but that group didn’t perform very well anyway.

Still, this isn’t what you want to see from a rookie draft pick. The Saints never gave Jackson a shot in a game and went with other players signed off the street instead, so it makes sense for him to go searching for a fresh start in a different locale. Late-round picks like these (Jackson was selected at No. 194 overall) are more like scratch-off lottery tickets, but you’d still like to see New Orleans get a better return on that investment than losing a player just months after calling his name on draft day. Hopefully they can make better use of those resources in April’s 2023 NFL draft.

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Chargers players not fond of practicing in Colorado

Some of the Chargers players aren’t happy with practicing in Colorado for a few days prior to the matchup against the Chiefs.

The Chargers’ home for the next few days will be at Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO in preparation for Monday night’s game against the Chiefs in Mexico City.

Coach Anthony Lynn moved the team from California to Colorado because he wants to get the players acclimated to the altitude they will be playing in Mexico City, which is about 7,300 feet above sea level.

Lynn has his purpose for having the Bolts practice in Colorado for a few days, saying that even though science suggests it could take seven or eight days to acclimate to it, as a former player it pays dividends.

But some of the players aren’t too thrilled with it.

Running back Austin Ekeler, grew up in Colorado, doesn’t mind practicing there because he’s used to it, but he elaborated that it’s a different story for his teammates, saying that some of them would’ve rather practiced in Costa Mesa, CO.

“I think there’s a lot of mixed feelings about us coming here. Me personally, I kinda like the change-up. I’m probably a little biased, obviously, because I’m from here. I was looking forward to being back in Colorado for a week, but I know some people disagree with that. They would rather have it at our own facility, back in our regular routine,” Ekeler said.

Wide receiver Keenan Allen went to his personal Twitter account to express some frustration. It’s all not certain what it’s about, but based on the day, it seems like he’s talking about being in Colorado.

“I hate everything about this,” Allen tweeted on Tuesday.

Defensive end Joey Bosa made it seem like he didn’t care the team was in Colorado, but would’ve rather stayed home in California and practice if he had the choice.

“You notice a difference out there a little bit with breathing. I don’t know if a few practices is enough to get acclimated to it. But, we’re here. We’ll make the most of it.”

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Chargers travel to Colorado to prepare for Mexico City battle with Chiefs

After having the weekend off, the Chargers are hitting the road to prepare for next Monday’s matchup against the Chiefs in Mexico City.

After having the weekend off, the Chargers are hitting the road to prepare for next Monday’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in Mexico City.

The Bolts are traveling to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for a week of practice ahead of the division battle, yet another must-win game in order to stay alive in the playoff race.

The team will have four practices at Air Force Academy in order to acclimate to Mexico City’s altitude. They will be at 6,000 feet above sea level for a few days before being tasked with playing at about 7,200 feet above sea level.

The Chargers don’t do anything like this to get ready for the Denver Broncos, whom they play annually a mile above sea level. But this will be a good trip for L.A. to get away, spend more time together and regroup after a slew of games that got away from them throughout the course of the season.

Sitting at 4-6, Los Angeles will need to be at their best in the final stretch of the season in order to make the playoffs. Realistically, they can’t lose a single game. If they are able to win out, the team would likely capture the AFC West title for the first time since 2009.

It all starts next week against the Chiefs, who have dropped the last four of their six games. Despite the struggles, the Chiefs are still a loaded team on both sides of the ball led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Monday night’s kickoff against Kansas City is slated for 5:15 p.m. PT and will be televised on ESPN.

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