Tennessee football: Ranking 15 options to replace Kodi Burns as Vols WR coach
Trooper Taylor. player. Pick Analysis. Duke Blue Devils. 825. Scouting Report. Secondary coach. 8
Years at current position: 3 (1 coaching DBs)
A familiar name among Tennessee football fans, Trooper Taylor had arguably the best four-year run of any position coach for the Vols from 2004 to 2007. He first became running backs coach in 2004, which remains the only year in UT history that two players rushed for over 1,000 yards each. Cedric Houston and Gerald Riggs Jr. accomplished that feat.
Two years later, Taylor moved over to wide receivers coach, and Robert Meachem set what remains the school record for receiving yards in a season. Simply put, every position he touched turned to gold, and Phillip Fulmer may still have his job nearly 15 years later had he done what he should have done and made Taylor David Cutcliffe’s successor at offensive coordinator in 2008.
After years of bouncing around as an assistant elsewhere, though, bringing Taylor back could be a huge boost for Rocky Top. Taylor may be coaching defensive backs right now, and he’s a holdover on new Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko’s staff, but he coached receivers Cutcliffe’s final two years there.
Simply put, he’d be a great fit. His experience coaching the position and connection to the university are good enough reasons. However, he also brings recruiting connections to North Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.