#22 Cooper Taylor
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
High School: Marist School
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 208
Position: Safety/Linebacker
Honors
* 2008 Second Team All-ACC (Rivals)
* 2008 Honorable Mention Freshman All-America (College Football News)
* 2008 Rivals National Freshman of the Week (Nov. 3)
2008
A true freshman safety who emerged as a star of the future... an athletic rookie who made an immediate impact... named second team All-ACC by Rivals... named honorable mention Freshmen All-America by College Football News... ranked second on the team and second among all ACC freshmen in tackles (69), including 45 solo tackles, despite starting just three games... his three career starts came against Florida State, Miami and Georgia... had two forced fumbles, one interception and two pass break-ups... one of three true freshmen to play on the defensive side of the ball... recorded four solo tackles in the Chick-fil-A Bowl vs. LSU(Dec. 31)... was Tech's leading-tackler (9) in the win at 13th-ranked Georgia (Nov. 29)... recorded three solo tackles and a pass break-up vs. No. 23 Miami (Nov. 20)... earned National Freshman of the Week honors by Rivals.com after his performance vs. Florida State (Nov. 1)... with FSU driving for the go-ahead touchdown and less than one minute remaining, Taylor forced a Seminole fumble near the goal line, securing Tech's 31-28 win... had his first career interception and returned it 28 yards against the Seminoles... paced the team with 10 tackles, including eight solo tackles against FSU... tied for a team-high with 11 tackles, including eight solo tackles, plus one pass break-up vs. Virginia (Oct. 25)... played the majority of the game at Virginia Tech (Sept. 13) and recorded nine tackles... played close to 50 snaps at Boston College (Sept. 6)... had six tackles, including three solo tackles, against the Eagles... had an impressive career debut vs. Jacksonville State (Aug. 28)... recorded three tackles, including two solo tackles, and forced a fumble against the Gamecocks... a good-sized safety with skills to play linebacker... a solid pass defender.
High School
A good-sized safety with ability to play linebacker... a solid pass defender... a two-time all-state and all-county selection... a good student... earned three varsity letters in football... played a variety of positions on the prep level including wide receiver, free safety, running back and quarterback... led team to the state championship game and a regional championship in 2006... broke the school single-season interception record in '06... chose Georgia Tech over Mississippi State, Virginia, Duke and others... Taylor said: "I really like Coach Johnson and he told me what plans he had for Georgia Tech."...
No. 61 prospect in Georgia (SuperPrep)
No. 78 safety in the nation (Scout.com)
Personal
Born April 14, 1990 in Atlanta... given name is Cooper Austin Taylor... the son of former Georgia Tech quarterback Jim Bob Taylor, who went on to play for the Baltimore Colts in 1983.
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
High School: Marist School
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 208
Position: Safety/Linebacker
Honors
* 2008 Second Team All-ACC (Rivals)
* 2008 Honorable Mention Freshman All-America (College Football News)
* 2008 Rivals National Freshman of the Week (Nov. 3)
2008
A true freshman safety who emerged as a star of the future... an athletic rookie who made an immediate impact... named second team All-ACC by Rivals... named honorable mention Freshmen All-America by College Football News... ranked second on the team and second among all ACC freshmen in tackles (69), including 45 solo tackles, despite starting just three games... his three career starts came against Florida State, Miami and Georgia... had two forced fumbles, one interception and two pass break-ups... one of three true freshmen to play on the defensive side of the ball... recorded four solo tackles in the Chick-fil-A Bowl vs. LSU(Dec. 31)... was Tech's leading-tackler (9) in the win at 13th-ranked Georgia (Nov. 29)... recorded three solo tackles and a pass break-up vs. No. 23 Miami (Nov. 20)... earned National Freshman of the Week honors by Rivals.com after his performance vs. Florida State (Nov. 1)... with FSU driving for the go-ahead touchdown and less than one minute remaining, Taylor forced a Seminole fumble near the goal line, securing Tech's 31-28 win... had his first career interception and returned it 28 yards against the Seminoles... paced the team with 10 tackles, including eight solo tackles against FSU... tied for a team-high with 11 tackles, including eight solo tackles, plus one pass break-up vs. Virginia (Oct. 25)... played the majority of the game at Virginia Tech (Sept. 13) and recorded nine tackles... played close to 50 snaps at Boston College (Sept. 6)... had six tackles, including three solo tackles, against the Eagles... had an impressive career debut vs. Jacksonville State (Aug. 28)... recorded three tackles, including two solo tackles, and forced a fumble against the Gamecocks... a good-sized safety with skills to play linebacker... a solid pass defender.
High School
A good-sized safety with ability to play linebacker... a solid pass defender... a two-time all-state and all-county selection... a good student... earned three varsity letters in football... played a variety of positions on the prep level including wide receiver, free safety, running back and quarterback... led team to the state championship game and a regional championship in 2006... broke the school single-season interception record in '06... chose Georgia Tech over Mississippi State, Virginia, Duke and others... Taylor said: "I really like Coach Johnson and he told me what plans he had for Georgia Tech."...
No. 61 prospect in Georgia (SuperPrep)
No. 78 safety in the nation (Scout.com)
Personal
Born April 14, 1990 in Atlanta... given name is Cooper Austin Taylor... the son of former Georgia Tech quarterback Jim Bob Taylor, who went on to play for the Baltimore Colts in 1983.
