Taggart walks-on to dream experience
First-year, non-scholarship athlete, prepares to work his way up the Zip's depth chart
Vincent Dorsey
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Sports
While those outside the team may not recognize or respect Taggart, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound linebacker's teammates certainly do.
"He won over all the hearts of the linebacker corps," said defensive coordinator Jim Fleming. "They love the guy - he's one of the guys."
Ideal walk-on
Fleming said that Taggart's work ethic and attitude are what have made him successful in his first season of college football.
"If you look at the first stage for any walk-on player, the first step that is necessary for them to be invited and stay with what we're doing is a commitment to doing the best they can at whatever role we ask them to play," Fleming said. "Tags meets that to the highest degree and then some."
Fleming added that Taggart's high school football background - Taggart recorded 53 tackles and helped the Green Bulldogs to a 28-8 record over three seasons - demonstrates that he has skills that can be furthered developed at Akron in making him into a good college player.
While the route to success after joining the football team as a walk-on can be difficult, several former Zips players have navigated the path to success that Taggart has begun to travel this season.
"We've had some real success stories with guys that have walked on, earned scholarships and played football," Fleming said. "I think Tags meets all the criteria we're looking for, which is first, the right attitude and second, physical talent that we can develop. Hopefully we will be able to get him on the field at some point to help us on defense or special teams."
Active in practice
Taggart may struggle with accepting the fact that he can't help the team while standing on the sideline at the Rubber Bowl or while watching in Akron the team's road games, but he knows the opposite is true during practice.
"You are a scout team player and you make the team better by going out on the field, because you know you have your 110 percent (effort)," Taggart said. "That reflects on them playing on Saturday and how they perform."
"He won over all the hearts of the linebacker corps," said defensive coordinator Jim Fleming. "They love the guy - he's one of the guys."
Ideal walk-on
Fleming said that Taggart's work ethic and attitude are what have made him successful in his first season of college football.
"If you look at the first stage for any walk-on player, the first step that is necessary for them to be invited and stay with what we're doing is a commitment to doing the best they can at whatever role we ask them to play," Fleming said. "Tags meets that to the highest degree and then some."
Fleming added that Taggart's high school football background - Taggart recorded 53 tackles and helped the Green Bulldogs to a 28-8 record over three seasons - demonstrates that he has skills that can be furthered developed at Akron in making him into a good college player.
While the route to success after joining the football team as a walk-on can be difficult, several former Zips players have navigated the path to success that Taggart has begun to travel this season.
"We've had some real success stories with guys that have walked on, earned scholarships and played football," Fleming said. "I think Tags meets all the criteria we're looking for, which is first, the right attitude and second, physical talent that we can develop. Hopefully we will be able to get him on the field at some point to help us on defense or special teams."
Active in practice
Taggart may struggle with accepting the fact that he can't help the team while standing on the sideline at the Rubber Bowl or while watching in Akron the team's road games, but he knows the opposite is true during practice.
"You are a scout team player and you make the team better by going out on the field, because you know you have your 110 percent (effort)," Taggart said. "That reflects on them playing on Saturday and how they perform."
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bryan taggart
posted 3/12/08 @ 3:36 AM EST
I am proud of ya bro.. keep up the hard work.. bryan
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