Football is something Pacelli High School's Devonte Taylor can't live without, he said.
"I just can't get enough of football," he said. "I like being out there on the field. I try to stay calm and take the game in as it comes my way."
Devonte, son of SSG Reginald and Lakisha Taylor, signed a letter of intent Feb. 3 on National Signing Day at
Pacelli to play football for Division II University of West Georgia.
The 17-year-old senior will receive a full scholarship.
"I was excited when I signed," said the 6-feet-2-inch, 195-pound safety. "I am happy to have the opportunity to play at the next level."
Taylor had five colleges that wanted him to play football, including Catawba College in North Carolina, Georgia Southern, Savannah State, Morehouse College and West Georgia.
"I wanted to go to the school I felt most comfortable at," he said. "I really like the coaching staff at UWG and I like their academics program."
Daryl Dickey, head football coach at the University of West Georgia, said scouts look at several hundred players throughout the year but only a select number are offered scholarships. Taylor was one of 29 players signed by West Georgia this year.
"Devonte Taylor is an outstanding young man," Dickey said. "He has lot of talent and athletic ability and we are just excited to be able to work with him."
A recruiter from UWG was the second to approach Taylor about a scholarship, but was the first to come to his practices and games, Taylor said. The recruiter started coming around in October.
Taylor's dad, a drill sergeant with the 192nd Infantry Brigade, said he has seen nothing but hard work from his son.
"His mom and I are so proud of him," Reginald said. "He is a talented young man and he deserves it. I always had confidence and knew he would get a full scholarship."
He remembers when his son played football as a child. At age 13 in middle school, Taylor played on a high school team in South Korea.
"Some kids played football for recreation, some kids played for the love of the game," Reginald said. "Devonte played for the love of the game."
Vikings head coach Bryan Eason, who has coached Taylor for four years, said he has seen his strong work ethic.
"He's committed to the weight room, works on the side with a personal trainer and during the season stayed after practice working with the quarterback every day understanding where to be on the field," Eason said.
"When you get to college, it's more than just going out there and playing, you have to know the field and you have to know the situations and I think he's doing a great job with that."
Football season is over, but Taylor is still training.
He trains six days a week, whether it's running, lifting weights or doing speed drills with his trainer.
"You can never be too prepared," Taylor said.
He'll begin training with UWG in the early summer.
Although football is a necessity in Taylor's life, so is getting good grades, he said.
"My parents instilled in me academics come before sports. If you don't get the grades, you can't play," said Taylor, who maintains a 3.3 grade-point average.
Aside from being a good football player, Taylor said his No. 1 goal is to maintain a 4.0 GPA when he goes to college.
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