Tag: Alontae Taylor

Josh Heupel discusses Alontae Taylor declaring for NFL draft, foregoing bowl game

Josh Heupel discusses Alontae Taylor declaring for the NFL draft and foregoing Tennessee’s bowl game.

Senior defensive back Alontae Taylor announced Dec. 1 his intentions to enter the 2022 NFL draft.

Taylor will not play in Tennessee’s bowl game.

Tennessee (7-5, 4-4 SEC) will play in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl against Purdue (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) on Dec. 30 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. EST and ESPN will televise the matchup.

First-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media Saturday and discussed Taylor’s decision to enter the 2022 NFL draft and not play in the Vols’ bowl game.

“I think for Alontae – I had an opportunity to sit down with him on the back end of it – he’s very thoughtful, took information, understood potentially where he was slotted and made a good decision for him,” Heupel said. “At the end of the day, you guys have heard me say this the back half of the year as you guys started asking those questions, you want to be able to give good, concrete information to kids and have them make a really sound decision for themselves and I feel like Alontae did that. We’re going to help and support him in every way as he goes through the draft process, excited about his future. It’s a kid that has been a great leader from the time that he stepped on campus for us. For me, he’s been a great resource in just helping build the foundation of Tennessee football.

“A guy that battled through injury the last three weeks of the season and really those are things that not very many people knew. It’s an opportunity for him to get back and get healthy here before he ends up in that draft process.”

The 6-foot, 195-pound Taylor appeared in 45 games for the Vols from 2018-21, totaling 162 tackles, five tackles for a loss, four interceptions, 19 pass deflections and three forced fumbles.

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Tennessee senior announces departure for NFL

Tennessee senior announces his departure for the NFL.

Senior defensive back Alontae Taylor has announced his intentions to enter the 2022 NFL draft.

Taylor will not play in Tennessee’s bowl game.

The 6-foot, 195-pound defensive back appeared in 45 games for the Vols from 2018-21, totaling 162 tackles, five tackles for a loss, four interceptions, 19 pass deflections and three forced fumbles.

Below are highlights from Taylor’s 2021 senior season.

Trio of Vols earn preseason All-SEC honors from coaches

Trio of Vols earn preseason All-SEC honors from coaches.

Tennessee will kick off its 2021 season on Sept. 2 against Bowling Green at Neyland Stadium.

Ahead of the Vols’ season-opening contest, three Tennessee student-athletes earned preseason honors from the Southeastern Conference.

Offensive lineman Cade Mays (first team), punter Paxton Brooks (second team) and defensive back Alontae Taylor (third team) were selected by the SEC’s 14 head coaches. Mays, Brooks and Taylor also earned preseason All-SEC honors by media during SEC media days in July.

Kickoff for the Vols’ season-opening game against Bowling Green is slated for 8 p.m. EDT. SEC Network will televise the matchup.

Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic will be on SEC Network’s broadcast crew for the Tennessee-Bowling Green game.

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Alontae Taylor discusses Vols’ quarterback battle

Alontae Taylor discusses Vols’ quarterback battle.

The 2021 Southeastern Conference football media days is taking place July 19-22 at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama.

Senior defensive back Alontae Taylor took part at SEC media days on Tuesday.

Taylor discussed Tennessee’s quarterback battle comprised of Harrison Bailey, Hendon Hooker, Brian Maurer and Joe Milton.

“I feel like, when you have a group of quarterbacks like we have, it’s really hard to just say we need to have a clarity of who our quarterback is going to be,” Taylor said. “All of them are great quarterbacks, all of them are smart guys, respectful guys, and they’re all leaders on our team. Just make sure they’re working hard, make sure we stay on top of them.

“As a corner, specifically in their passing game, being able to talk to them, what do they see, what do I see, things like that, that could help them out as far as bettering their game is probably what’s most important to me.
At the end of the day, I don’t think rushing to figure out who your quarterback is going to be is a smart thing. I feel like just let it play out, let every guy work as hard as they can, and may the best man win. At the end of the day, our quarterback room is big, it’s deep now, and I feel like they all respect each other.”

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Vols’ student-athletes announced for 2021 SEC media days

Vols’ student-athletes announced for 2021 SEC media days.

The 2021 Southeastern Conference media days will take place July 19-22 at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama.

On Wednesday, the SEC announced student-athletes that will attend media days.

2021 SEC media days student-athlete attendees

Alabama
Phidarian Mathis, DL, Senior
John Metchie III, WR, Junior

Arkansas
Myron Cunningham, OL, Senior
Grant Morgan, LB, Senior

Auburn
Bo Nix, QB, Junior
Owen Pappoe, LB, Junior

Florida
Zach Carter, DL, Senior
Ventrell Miller, LB, Senior

Georgia
JT Daniels, QB, Junior
Jordan Davis, DL, Senior

Kentucky
Darian Kinnard, OT, Senior
Josh Paschal, DE, Senior

LSU
Austin Deculus, OT, Senior
Derek Stingley Jr., DB, Junior

Ole Miss
Matt Corral, QB, Junior
Jaylon Jones, DB, Senior

Mississippi State
Aaron Brule, LB, Junior
Austin Williams, WR, Senior

Missouri
Akial Byers, DL, Senior
Case Cook, OL, Senior

South Carolina
Kingsley Enagbare, DE, Senior
Nick Muse, TE, Senior

Tennessee
Velus Jones Jr., WR, Senior
Alontae Taylor, DB, Senior

Texas A&M
Kenyon Green, OL, Junior
DeMarvin Leal, DL, Junior

Vanderbilt
Bradley Ashmore, OL, Sophomore
Daevion Davis, DL, Junior

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Tennessee’s secondary: Willie Martinez details two Vols providing leadership

2021 Tennessee Vols’ football spring practices.

Tennessee’s secondary coach Willie Martinez met with media following the Vols’ sixth spring practice.

Martinez discussed what his early impressions have been of Tennessee’s secondary group this spring.

“I think the guys in the backend have been locked in,” Martinez said. “I’ve just noticed how they pay attention to detail and it’s important to them. It’s not a big group. We don’t have the numbers there, but I guess you could say that about everybody on our team.

“Having guys like Alontae Taylor, who have a tremendous amount of experience and have been here, Theo Jackson, just naming two guys who have been here and played for a while. They do things how you want them done off the field. When you have that kind of leadership, I don’t care what room it is, you have a chance. They’re good players and they know how to get things done both on and off the field.”

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

The Vols will conclude spring practices with their annual Chevrolet Orange & White game on April 24 at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. EDT.

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Jeremy Pruitt provides update on Alontae Taylor

Jeremy Pruitt provides update on Alontae Taylor.

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee suffered a 34-7 loss in Week 4 of its 10-game SEC-only schedule Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

Junior cornerback Alontae Taylor did not play in the contest.

Following the game, third-year Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt provided an update on Taylor.

“Alontae pulled his hamstring against Georgia,” Pruitt said. “It was something that he battled with all of fall camp.”

KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 – Defensive back Alontae Taylor #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics

Taylor has appeared in 28 games for the Vols since 2018. This was his first contest that he has missed since arriving at Tennessee. The 6-foot, 193-pound cornerback is from Coffee County Central High School in Manchester, Tennessee.

He has totaled 85 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one interception, seven pass deflections and forced two fumbles during his Tennessee career.

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2020 UT football player card: Alontae Taylor

2020 UT football player card: Alontae Taylor

Alontae Taylor, Defensive back (No. 2)

Class: Junior

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 193 pounds

Hometown: Manchester, Tennessee

High School: Coffee County Central

Junior defensive back Alontae Taylor has appeared in 25 games for the Vols since 2018. Taylor has recorded one interception, six pass deflections, two forced fumbles, 0.5 sacks and 73 tackles.

2020 Tennessee football schedule

  • Sept. 5 vs. Charlotte (Knoxville)
  • Sept. 12 at Oklahoma (Norman)
  • Sept. 19 vs. Furman (Knoxville)
  • Sept. 26 vs. Florida (Knoxville)
  • Oct. 3 vs. Missouri (Knoxville)
  • Oct. 10 at South Carolina (Columbia)
  • Oct. 17 OPEN DATE
  • Oct. 24 vs. Alabama (Knoxville)
  • Oct. 31 at Arkansas (Fayetteville)
  • Nov. 7 vs. Kentucky (Knoxville)
  • Nov. 14 at Georgia (Athens)
  • Nov. 21 vs. Troy (Knoxville)
  • Nov. 28 at Vanderbilt (Nashville)

Alontae Taylor named to SEC Football Leadership Council

Alontae Taylor named to SEC Football Leadership Council.

KNOXVILLE — 2020 junior cornerback Alontae Taylor has been named as a member of the Southeastern Conference Leadership Council.

The Southeastern Conference Leadership Council consists of one football student-athlete from each institution. SEC student-athletes on the Council will meet at the conference offices on Birmingham, Ala. Friday and Saturday.

Alontae Taylor
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

UT press release:

Tennessee football rising junior cornerback Alontae Taylor is set to represent the Vols as a member of the Southeastern Conference Leadership Council this weekend.

The council consists of one football student-athlete from each of the conference’s 14 schools and will meet for its annual gathering at the SEC offices on Birmingham this Friday and Saturday.

Among the agenda items for the group is a review of NCAA and SEC legislative items, open discussion on topics submitted by members of the Council, and engagement with football officials on rules of the game and student-athlete/referee interaction.

The event also includes a conversation with SEC alum and three-time NBA All-Star Antoine Walker to discuss his book, “Gone in an Instant” along with a discussion on financial literacy and education. The meeting is closed with an opportunity for the players to meet and talk with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.

The Football Leadership Council is one of three components of the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council. The other two components are the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Leadership Councils. Student-Athlete Leadership Councils were introduced for the sports of football and men’s and women’s basketball, which, in addition to the conference’s longstanding Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), provide student-athletes with additional opportunities to engage with campus leaders and conference office staff. The councils serve as a conduit of communication to the conference office on issues related to student-athlete experience and student-athlete wellness.

Taylor appeared in all 13 games this past season and started six of them for the Vols. The Manchester, Tennessee native, finished the year with 33 tackles, one interception and three pass breakups. Taylor started the final four games of the season and had two tackles in the Vols’ victory over Indiana in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

The student-athletes who comprise this year’s SEC Football Leadership Council are: Alontae Taylor (Tennessee), Mac Jones (Alabama), Jordan Silver (Arkansas), Kameron Brown (Auburn), Kaiir Elam (Florida), Kearis Jackson (Georgia), Josh Paschal (Kentucky), Avery Atkins (LSU), Mahomed “MoMo” Sanogo (Ole Miss), Kobe Jones (Mississippi State), Larry Rountree III (Missouri), Ryan Hilinski (South Carolina) and Andre White Jr. (Texas A&M) and Cam Robinson (Vanderbilt).