Kevin Taylor, his bio, your thoughts?

Kevin Taylor Bio....

More height in the back line...some serious height!!

Position: Defender
Born: Nov. 4, 1982
Height: 6-5 Weight: 180
College: University of Michigan
High School: Gulliver Preparatory
Hometown: Miami, Fla.

2003: Played and started in all 21 games at defender ... All-Big Ten Conference first team selection ... Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9) ... Tallied career-high 14 points with six penalty kick goals and two assists ... Converted the first of U-M's four penalty kicks in its 4-3 PK advantage at No. 3 Notre Dame (Nov. 30) to earn a spot into the Elite Eight ... On the season took 24 shots, 17 shots on goal

2002: All-Great Lakes Region third team ... All-Big Ten Conference second team ... Started 19 games for the Wolverines ... Anchored defense that posted a record of 5-0-1 in last six regular season matches ... Tied for scoring lead among defenders with three points ... Registered 10 shots, with four shots on goal

2001: All-Great Lakes Region third team ... All-Big Ten Conference second team ... Started in 14 matches ... With three goals on the season, he set program's career mark for goals scored by a defender with six ... Anchored a defense that registered a U-M record six shutouts, three in Big Ten play

2000: Played 15 games, starting 14 ... Had a career-high five shots against Drury College (Oct. 22) ... Tied for team lead with two game-winning goals ... Had 24 shots, three goals and two assists on the season

PREP: Gulliver Preparatory (2000) ... 2000 All-America second team ... Four-year letter winner ... Four-time all-conference (1997-2000) ... Three-time all-county (1998-2000) ... Two-time all-state (1997, '98).

PERSONAL: Enrolled in Division of Kinesiology ... Undecided in his major

 

I think you beat me bya few seconds! How do I delete the duplicate thread??? Moderators?

LOVE the height.

 

6-5 We have drafted a freak. Jim Curtin proves this sometimes works out. I'd bet him making the lineup if he is blond. It would just confirm the Big Blond Freak Phenomenon.

 

6'5" and 180 lbs?

My lord, one stiff gust of wind at a training session and the kid will snap in half. Get him to Krispy Kreme on the double.

Certainly a bizarre trade used to get the 3rd round pick back from Columbus, but that's really about it. Maybe The Wank picked him up just so he has some freakishly tall substitute to use in the box late in the game.

 

Draft picks are the currency of the realm. They are passed around like dimes. What was the "cost" of the same draft pick to both teams? Did the Rapids lose out in what is supposed to be a "zero sum" transaction?

 

I didn't see him play this year, but i have in year's past - he's started since he was a freshman.

He organized Michigan's defense (for whatever that's worth - they are a young, but up and coming program) and is really good in the air. Especially dangerous on corner kicks and set pieces. Kind of a physical player from what I remember. He made 1st team All-Big Ten this year.

He dribbled the ball more than I would have liked. I think he started out as a midfielder at UM. Then they recruited some offensive talent to put around him the next year so they moved him back (Taylor was in UM's 1st or 2nd recruiting class as a varsity program).

 

This guy may well be the steal of the draft. I've got lots of notes for him at the thread below - mostly on the second and third day of the combine. That starts on page four of that thread, I think.

https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=90679

 

I'm with Knave, this kid is a steal.

Yeah, he's a bit thin but he's a nice athlete and he'll add some bulk as he gets older. I'm sure the Rapids will have him on a weight program ASAP.

He took all of Michigan's PKs and while that's not too big a deal, that says something about his presence.

He also played PDL ball for Mid-Michigan, one of the better programs that has had player like Pat Noonan on it in the past. I know that when MM played the MetroStars in the Open Cup, Taylor had a nice game and impressed the Metros coaching staff, so that's a good sign.

What I like about the kid is that four years ago he could have gone to almost any program he wanted but chose a program that was in its first season. (Michigan's program is just four years old.)

The kid is willing to take a chance and to work to build something. I like what that says about his character.

BTW, in his third season, UM made the Big Ten title game and this year they made the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

 

i wouldnt bring him outside on a windy day...haha, actually, Knave over on the DC boards did an excellent coverage job of the Combine and had a lot of praise for Taylor...

 

Just to keep things in perspective, other Rapids' draft picks that many observers reported looking good in the combines:

Casey Schmidt
Jason Cole
Alex Blake
Danny Jackson
Stephen Herdsman
Ryan Lee
Wes Hart

Note that not one of these players has an MLS contract as of this writing.

 

Kevin Taylor

Taylor's a great pick for the Rapids. I watched him play this summer with the Mid-Michigan Bucks. Has good speed and ball skills. Played well against the MetroStars in the US Open game. And he's got killer dreadlocks!

I don't know whose in the central defence for the Rapids now, but Taylor can hang.

 

Oakland Co U is right, KT was the Bucks' best player against the Metros. Before the late collapse KT had the Bucks' best scoring chance(would have tied the game) with a header that was parried just in time by recent arrival Jonny Walker.

By the end of the Bucks' season KT was arguably their most consistent scoring threat.

If he's 6-5, I'd guess that the lad is still growing. He didn't look 6-5 to me last summer. Of course, if you count the locks.......

 

Go Blue!

As a Michigan Alum, I have the greatest respect for this young man. He has the intellect and the physicality, but 4 years of college does not a professional make. Although his PDL exposure is nice, he has no high level soccer experience in his Bio.

Another one of Hankinson & Counce's I hope we can get lucky this time picks.