2014 Tennessee Volunteers Recruiting: Catching Up With Blaise Taylor

Blaise Taylor, a Wide Receiver/ATH from Auburn High School in Auburn, Alabama, is one of Butch Jones top targets for the Vols 2014 recruiting class. Taylor is listed as 5’7″/165 lbs with a 31 inch vertical. In 2013 he had 12 catches for 303 yards and 5 receiving touchdowns. He carried the ball 8 times for 81 yards and 1 touch down. He also returned 15 punts for 252 yards averaging 16.8 yards per return. Taylor had 17 kickoff returns for 406 yards averaging 23.8 a return.

Late Tuesday night I had the pleasure of speaking with Blaise on the phone to talk about his recruitment so far. Here’s the transcript from that conversation.

Jonah:What are your top three schools at the moment?

Blaise: Probably right now the three main schools that have offered Tennessee, Auburn, and Nebraska.

Jonah: What are your thoughts on Jay Graham leaving and does that have any affect on your decision with Tennessee ?

Blaise: Not really I’ve been around the coaching profession obviously and things change a lot and my dad being a coach. I know that’s part of the game and it’s a business and I still have a good relationship with coach Martinez and coach Thigpen from when they was at Auburn, so it won’t affect Tennessee any.

Jonah: What are your thoughts on new RB Coach Robert Gillespie?

Blaise: I haven’t met or spoke with him yet, but I will the next time I come up and visit Tennessee.

Jonah:NCAA rule changes starting August 1st allows coaches to contact recruits as much as they want. Do you believe this will pressure recruits to commit early?

Blaise: No, I’m really not sure, considering since we are the first class to experience that. I know it is going to be crazy though because I know the phone calls are going to be unlimited there is no telling how much the phone will be ringing.

Jonah: How will you personally handle coaches calling you all the time?

Blaise: I’m not sure yet, I will respond as much as I can, especially on Friday, Saturdays, and Sunday, the weekends and days I do not have school. I will respond a lot then, but I will try to tone it down during the week.

Jonah: Todd Kelly Jr and Neiko Creamer are the latest recruits to commit to the 2014 Tennessee Volunteers recruiting class, both of their fathers played for the Vols. Does the fact your father has coached for the Vols favor Tennessee, or have nothing to do with your decision?

Blaise: It does not have that much to do with it, I am comfortable at Tennessee because I have been there before. I have lived in Knoxville and I know the city very well. I have friends there and feel comfortable there out of the schools I have to choose from.

Jonah: Have you set a date to announce what school you’re choosing, or will you be waiting till signing day?

Blaise: I do not have a set date and I have been talking to people trying to figure out when everyone else is doing their thing. I am not really sure when I am going to commit , will probably be one of those spur of the moment things. When I feel I know what school I need to go to, that’s when I’ll go ahead and commit because I should go ahead and knock it out.

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