Thomas Dale alum Darvin Taylor II has now been at Florida State for two years.
While he was redshirted his first season and dealt with injuries in the offseason heading into and during the 2016-17 season, it appears that he’s turning a corner, one of health and growing success on the field.
Darvin Taylor II, right, and Mavin Saunders pose for the camera after receiving academic awards at Florida State.
For one, he was named Florida State’s most improved defensive player after the team’s spring game. In an article on 247sports.com, he was applauded for his play in the game. Most importantly, he received praise from his coach, Jimbo Fisher, in a recent press conference.
Fisher talked about Taylor’s shoulder injury and how well it has been rehabbing and said that he has “been super.”
Though Taylor hasn’t seen reps in game action yet, he’s a part of perhaps one of the deepest defensive lines in the country, including four players from Virginia. The line includes Brian Burns, Demarcus Christmas, Derrick Nnadi, Josh Sweat, Josh Kaindoh, and Marvin Wilson.
The competition will be stiff, but Taylor has worked through each challenge he’s faced at the college level.
Playing under coach Kevin Tucker and training under Roger Riggle at DefyGENETICS, Taylor was a leader on the 2014 edition of the famed “Dark Zone” defense as Thomas Dale went 9-3. He ranked as the nation’s 18th best defensive tackle prospect and the state’s 11th best player. He sported a 3.4 GPA in high school, and he has been the recipient of several academic accolades at FSU.
Thus far, the highlight of Taylor’s career so far may be when he led his team out on Military Appreciation Day during his redshirt season. Both of his parents served in the Army.
While this is a moment he would never forget, it appears that there may be more to come from the Chester native in 2017 Stay tuned.
