Kole Taylor is a name the many West Virginia fans have begun to familiarize themselves with in the last nine games.
Taylor, a junior that transferred to West Virginia from LSU, has proven himself to be a key part of the Mountaineer offense this season, leading the team in receptions.
“It’s flown by, to think we’re already three quarters of the way done with the season is kind of mind blowing,” said Taylor.
This season Taylor has 25 catches for 305 yards and three scores, including a 43-yard touchdown this past week.
“I think the offense has done a really good job, I think we have gotten better each week and I think we come in with that mentality that we’re not settling on anything,” Taylor said. “Each week is different and each week is a different defense so you know we have to be prepared for a lot of different things, but I think we’ve done a really good job, we’ve put up a lot of points in the last couple games, a lot of yards, keep progressing, keep hitting the easy plays, we’re still leaving a lot out there.”
Taylor is currently averaging 12 yards a catch which is a testament to Neal Brown saying they are “trying” to get the ball downfield to him.
“Yeah we’re trying to,” said Brown. “We tried the other night, he had a great run after catch on the touchdown. He really mistimed his jump on the first kind of downfield throw we had on the opening drive. Garrett threw a nice ball and Kole just kind of mistimed his jump for it. There’s things that he’s got to continue to work on, he’s got to play big sometimes in the pass game, he’s improving in the run game, he’s got to hold his lines, but we’re going to continue getting him the ball, he’s a matchup problem. He’s got great ball skills. Some of the things we’re doing in the run game it leads to tight ends having success.”
During the offseason, West Virginia was selected to finish 14th in the Big 12. Now, the Mountaineers are in a tie for third place and according to Kole Taylor, are continuing to use that offseason poll as motivation.
“Yeah that’s huge, coach Brown just showed a picture of it that we were picked 14th in the team meeting right before practice so it’s something that we carry over every week and we take great pride in. I don’t know where we are exactly right now, I think we’re fourth or something in the league right now so it’s something that, you know, we play with a chip on our shoulder and I think it’s something that West Virginia has done year in and year out is play with a chip on their shoulder.”
