Kole Taylor was one of Garrett Greene’s top targets last season.
Despite missing spring practice due to an injury, tight ends coach Blaine Stewart is hoping Taylor can take things up a notch this season.
Taylor was in his first year with the Mountaineers after transferring from LSU. In 13 games in 2023, Taylor caught 35 passes for 444 yards and four touchdowns.
“Kole (Taylor), coming off of rehab he’s doing very well,” Stewart said.
Taylor is limited and able to participate in non-contact drills. Stewart has been working with Taylor off the field, to refine his game, in an attempt to still make improvements as he continues to recover.
“Kole and I are on a very individualized plan and we have been since January,” Stewart said. “I think the biggest thing for him is maximizing his physical development as much as he can push himself and that starts in numerous phases. That starts with the training staff, that starts with the strength staff, that starts with nutrition and really taking care of his body. He’s doing a good job pushing that and being ahead of schedule I would say on his rehab.”
On top of that, Stewart and Taylor have spent a lot of time in the classroom trying to study what could work for Taylor as he continues to develop and aims at an NFL career in the near future.
“In terms of classroom work, we are studying what he did last year, we’re studying what we want to kind of take to the next level in terms of schematics and skill set added to his disposal,” Stewart said. “We’re (also) studying former college tight ends that have came out and been successful earlier in their NFL careers, like Trey McBride out of Colorado State and (Sam) LaPorta who’s now with the Detroit Lions.
“So, we’re studying guys and my biggest thing for him (Taylor) is like, ‘look when you put Senior film out there this is what it needs to look like’ because those guys have obviously been successful at the next level early in their career and that’s his goal and that’s my goal to to prepare him for the next level and you know we’re really trying to maximize classroom time, walk through time, doing some individual on the side during special teams or whatever period that may be, pushing him and really emphasizing the things we want, taking his receiving ability to the next level.”
However, there is more to the tight end position than just catching passes and being a threat in the red zone. Taylor will need to block here and there, which the pair have also been working on.
“Also you know, being more stout in the run game and that starts with flexibility which he’s improved, that starts with you know mobility being able to play with the lower base because I mean it’s no secret that six-(foot)-seven guys no matter who you are you got to be able to bend so we’re we’re trying to take that to the next level,” Stewart said.
Taylor has been working to make a full recovery and will be ready to step right back into that starting tight end spot upon his return. The 6-foot-7 senior pass-catching, run-blocking hybrid has made great strides in his game since transferring to WVU and could continue to improve as he works toward a future in the league.
“Kole’s on a great trajectory to come back here whenever that clearance comes and help us and have a great summer that’s our goal,” Stewart said.
