Tag: Trooper Taylor

Former Auburn player, analyst expected to be named head coach at Georgia State

Dell McGee played cornerback for Auburn from 1992-95, and later served as an analyst on Gus Malzahn’s first staff in 2013.

A former Auburn player and analyst is set to take on his first collegiate head coaching role.

Matt Zenitz of 247Sports is reporting that Georgia State is eyeing [autotag]Dell McGee[/autotag] to take over as head coach of the football program following the departure of Shawn Elliot.

Zenitz reports that Georgia State held Zoom interviews with candidates on Tuesday, and in-person interviews on Thursday. Former Auburn assistant [autotag]Trooper Taylor[/autotag] was also interviewed for the position.

McGee has been a part of Kirby Smart’s staff at Georgia since the 2016 season, serving in various roles including running backs coach and run game coordinator. McGee has coached in the college ranks since 2013, beginning as an analyst on [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag]’s initial staff.

Following his departure from Auburn, he served as running backs coach at Georgia Southern for two seasons. He even led the Eagles to a bowl win as an interim head coach in 2015 after former Georgia Southern head coach Willie Fritz left to take the Tulane job.

Before his time at Auburn, he was a successful high school head coach at Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia, where he produced talented players such as running back Isaiah Crowell, linebacker Jarvis Jones, and former Auburn defensive lineman [autotag]Gabe Wright[/autotag].

McGee played cornerback for the Tigers from 1992-95. He went on to become a fifth-round selection by the Arizona Cardinals in the 1996 NFL draft.

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Texas A&M senior WR Jabre Barber proclaims lofty, yet realistic goal after transferring from Troy

“I feel like I can go for 50 catches and I want to get past that 1,000-yard mark,” Barber admitted. “I know I have to put in a lot of work.”

Texas A&M senior wide receiver Jabre Barber has been an Aggie for just over a week but he’s already formed a lofty goal for the upcoming season in College Station.

Barber chose Texas A&M in the NCAA Transfer Portal on Jan. 5. This week he spoke with Carter Karels, the Aggies beat writer for 247Sports, about his plans for the 2024 campaign.

“There is not a guaranteed role. It is about coming in and being your best. I know I am up to compete,” Barber told Karels. “I can be versatile. I can play in the slot, as well as the outside, motion out of the backfield. Or as a wide receiver, motioning over and pulling me to the end to where I can just work as a 1-on-1 player between me and the DB. I can be all over the field, not just in the slot. I can do more than that and show my versatility.”

Barber is 5-foot-10, 174 pounds and was a 2-star prospect coming out of Dothan High School in Alabama. He took a redshirt year in 2020 after appearing in three games at Troy.

Over the last three years, Barber has racked up the statistics for the Trojans. In 32 games, he tallied 132 receptions for 1,674 yards and 10 touchdowns. A majority of those numbers came this past year. During the 2023 season, he recorded 75 catches for 999 yards and 5 scores, just barely falling short of 1K.

“When I got into the locker room and looked at my phone — I am in a group chat with my close buddies. They were telling me, ‘You had 999 yards. You were one yard short.’ I am just like, ‘Whoa, what?'” Barber recalled. “I feel like I can go for 50 catches and I want to get past that 1,000-yard mark. I know I have to put in a lot of work. But I have a lot of belief in myself that I can do that and prove to my quarterback, Conner Weigman, that he can trust me to throw me the ball.”

Barber explained to Karels that associate head coach and running backs coach, Trooper Taylor, made a significant impact in his decision to play home games at Kyle Field.

“Sitting down and talking with the coaches, it started to feel a little bit like home,” Barber said. “The Duke coach, coach Trooper, he talked to me a lot. He made me feel like home a little bit more. So that is what made me a little more comfortable, how they made me feel welcome.”

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Texas A&M football program formally hires Patrick Dougherty as special teams coordinator

Expectations officially became reality on Saturday afternoon as the Texas A&M football team hired Patrick Dougherty as its special teams coordinator.

Expectations officially became reality on Saturday afternoon as the Texas A&M football team hired Patrick Dougherty as its special teams coordinator.

Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported on Friday that the move was in the works but the Aggies formally made it official on Saturday.

Dougherty served as special teams and tight ends coach for new Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko at Duke for the last two seasons. He has been hired to serve in the same roles for the Aggies.

Before joining Elko in Durham, Dougherty coached special teams and tight ends at Ball State University from 2016 to 2021. He also displayed an ability to serve as associate head coach during his final season with the Cardinals.

Dougherty had an immediate impact with the Blue Devils, ranking in the top 25 nationally in blocked kicks, punt & kick return defense, respectively, and punt return average.

During his nearly six-season tenure at Texas A&M, former Aggies leading man Jimbo Fisher did not have a special teams coordinator. Elko has shown that he’s quickly changing things at Kyle Field in more ways than one.

Dougherty joins Ishmael Aristide, Adam Cushing and Trooper Taylor in departing from Durham with Elko for College Station.

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Texas A&M football team officially hires Trooper Taylor from Duke to coach running backs

Among those departing Durham is Carl “Trooper” Taylor, the associate head coach and running backs coach, who Elko hired for the same roles.

Hours after the conclusion of the 2023 season, Texas A&M solidified its coaching staff for 2024 and made reported hirings officially official on Friday.

One of the main moves that new Aggies head coach Mike Elko made after being hired was to bring some familiar faces with him to College Station. Among those departing Durham with him is Carl “Trooper” Taylor, the associate head coach and running backs coach. Elko has hired him for the same roles at Texas A&M.

Taylor began coaching the Blue Devils in 2019, leading the wide receivers for his first two seasons. In 2021, he became associate head coach and cornerbacks coach.

When Elko came to Durham in 2022, Taylor kept his role as AHC and began coaching the running backs. After Elko departed Duke in November to accept the Aggies job, Taylor served as interim head coach and led the Blue Devils to a 17-10 win against Troy in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 23.

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Former Vols’ assistant Trooper Taylor hired at Texas A&M

Former Tennessee assistant Trooper Taylor hired at Texas A&M.

Former Tennessee assistant coach Trooper Taylor was hired Friday at Texas A&M on head coach Mike Elko’s staff.

Taylor will serve as associate head coach on offense and running backs coach  for the Aggies.

He was an assistant coach at Tennessee from 2004-07, overseeing running backs, wide receivers and as assistant head coach.

Taylor served as Duke’s interim head coach in the 2023 Birmingham Bowl, defeating Troy, 17-10.

He took over as the Blue Devils’ interim head coach following the departure of Elko. Elko was Duke’s head coach from 2022-23 before being hired at Texas A&M.

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Trooper Taylor wins first game as head coach

Former Tennessee assistant Trooper Taylor wins first game as head coach.

Duke (8-5) defeated Troy (11-3), 17-10, on Saturday in the Birmingham Bowl.

The contest was played at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.

Trooper Taylor served as Duke’s interim head coach against Troy in the Birmingham Bowl. He was an assistant coach at Tennessee from 2004-07, overseeing running backs, wide receivers and as assistant head coach.

Taylor took over as the Blue Devils’ interim head coach following the departure of Mike Elko. Elko served as Duke’s head coach from 2022-23. He was hired in the same capacity at Texas A&M on Nov. 27.

Manny Diaz was hired as Duke’s head coach on Dec. 7, replacing Elko.

PHOTOS: Tennessee football head coaches through the years

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Texas A&M will hire Duke AHC and RB coach Trooper Taylor

It has been reported that Texas A&M and HC Mike Elko will bring in Duke AHC and running backs coach Troop Taylor.

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has made another key hire during his transition period, as it’s been reported by 247Sports’ Adam Rowe and Aggies Today that Duke AHC and running back coach Trooper Taylor will become the third assistant under Elko during his two seasons in Durham (NC) to follow him to College Station.

Joining Ishmael Aristide (cornerbacks coach) and Adam Cushing (offensive line coach), Elko is prioritizing coaching continuity after two successful seasons at Duke, while Aristide also worked under Elko during his four seasons at Texas A&M as the program’s defensive coordinator (2018-2021).

From 2019-2023, Taylor served in various positions with the Blue Devils, including wide receivers and cornerbacks coaches during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Still, even more importantly, Taylor has consistently been named as one of the top recruiters in the country year after year, according to Rivals and 247Sports over the last decade.

After Elko’s departure, Taylor was unanimously named Dukes’ interim head coach due to his experience. He will likely become the go-to confident during Elko’s first season at the helm.

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