Florida was in the Virginia area this week and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin visited defensive end Darrell Taylor (6-4, 220, Hopewell, VA High) and made his day when the Gators offered him a scholarship.
“Me being a Florida fan this offer means a little more than others,” Taylor said. “I was just real excited when I found out that I had the offer. My first reaction was Wow because I didn’t think I would ever get a chance to be a Florida Gator. “
Durkin spent a large majority of his day on Wednesday at Hopewell High School but Taylor didn’t find out about the offer until after school when he called Durkin.
“Coach [D.J] Durkin, the defensive coordinator, was by my school on Wednesday and that’s when he offered me,” Taylor said. “I actually called him on the phone after school and I talked to him and he was telling me that he needs guys like me at Florida. He said that I’m a guy that can rush the passer and also drop back into coverage. He said that he wants me at the BUCK position in the defense.”
After Taylor spoke with Durkin the next call he made was to head coach Will Muschamp and the Gators head coach shared a little more about the offer to Taylor.
“I actually talked to Coach Muschamp too and he was telling me about the sets they ran on defense and that he wants me at BUCK,” Taylor said. “He was telling me how he sees me playing the position and what the position requires as far skill sets go.”
Being a Florida fan, Taylor is familiar with the Gators from watching them on TV and two of his favorite players are the reason he’s a Gator fan.
“I use to watch Florida a lot when I was kid,” Taylor said. “I actually grew up a Florida fan because I used to watch them a lot when Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin played. I just always liked them and Tebow was my favorite player.”
With Taylor’s dream offer in hand, he says he has a new team standing out in his recruitment.
“Florida is really standing out to me because they are my favorite team,” Taylor said. “A lot of guys can’t say that they got to play for their favorite team growing up but I have that chance now.”
In the coming months Taylor will get the opportunity to see his dream school in person when he and his family visit Gainesville.
“I’m going to visit them this summer,” Taylor said. “It may be a little sooner but I’m not quite sure yet.”