Wake Forest Athletics
Taylor Becoming On-Field Coach for Deacs Secondary
9/17/2020 12:30:00 PM | Football
“I’m not the loud type, but I found my role as a leader by pulling guys to the side, helping them out and being an on-the-field coach.” - Ja’Sir Taylor
Wake Forest Football considers itself a developmental program, and coach Dave Clawson consistently reiterates that he often redshirts about two-thirds of all freshmen.
In reality, it usually ends up being much more than that. There are just five upperclassmen on the Wake Forest roster who never sat out a year, and the only non-redshirt senior on the roster is cornerback Ja'Sir Taylor, who was named a team captain late last month.
"It was an honor," Taylor said. "I was really shocked. I've come a long way. I've been here four years and when I first arrived, you couldn't get a word out of me. It's different now. When I'm on the field I have to lead by example, but also speak up. I'm not the loud type, but I found my role as a leader by pulling guys to the side, helping them out and being an on-the-field coach.
"Being the only one with experience, I can't hide in the back and be quiet. I have to instill that sense of urgency when we're in practice and remind them that we're getting ready to play a game in less than a week. It'll be way different. Coaches won't be on the field telling them where to line up."
As the Deacs prepare for this weekend's matchup at NC State, it's the cornerback position that perhaps presents the biggest question mark on the depth chart after losing 13-game starters Amari Henderson and Essang Bassey from last year's 8-5 Demon Deacons.
"I definitely miss them and miss getting that knowledge from them," Taylor said. "Looking back, I really soaked in everything I got from them. Not that I'm in the spotlight, being a captain and a leader in the cornerback room, they really prepared me for this time and I didn't even know it."
Taylor has played in all 40 games in his collegiate career, compiling 88 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions.
"There have been days after tough games, where I got down," Taylor said about his four years wearing the Old Gold & Black. "But there was never a time I thought it was too much. The guys around me made sure I kept a level head — Essang, Amari and Cam Glenn."
It was all-out game prep for Clemson after wrapping up the final scrimmage on Sept. 5.
"I'm excited to play," Taylor said ahead of the Clemson game. "I just want to transition the energy I have for this game coming up to all the younger guys who don't understand — we're playing on national TV against one of the best teams in the country."
It was a long journey just to get to this point for the Demon Deacons. Spring camp was halted after just five practices because of the COVID-19 pandemic, then the team was scattered back to their homes all across the country. A late-summer return to campus came along with a period of quarantine and strict protocols and regular Covid testing.
"Honestly I didn't think we'd make it this far, to be honest, the way things were trending," Taylor said. "When I saw what some other conferences were doing, I didn't think we would have a season. Now that we're on track, the mindset has switched, and it's time to prepare for a game.
"Since the start of camp, we just focused on football. We couldn't think about whether we were playing or not. Once we stepped on the field and had practice, my mindset was on preparing for a game. So, I've been locked in since camp started."
In reality, it usually ends up being much more than that. There are just five upperclassmen on the Wake Forest roster who never sat out a year, and the only non-redshirt senior on the roster is cornerback Ja'Sir Taylor, who was named a team captain late last month.
"It was an honor," Taylor said. "I was really shocked. I've come a long way. I've been here four years and when I first arrived, you couldn't get a word out of me. It's different now. When I'm on the field I have to lead by example, but also speak up. I'm not the loud type, but I found my role as a leader by pulling guys to the side, helping them out and being an on-the-field coach.
"Being the only one with experience, I can't hide in the back and be quiet. I have to instill that sense of urgency when we're in practice and remind them that we're getting ready to play a game in less than a week. It'll be way different. Coaches won't be on the field telling them where to line up."
As the Deacs prepare for this weekend's matchup at NC State, it's the cornerback position that perhaps presents the biggest question mark on the depth chart after losing 13-game starters Amari Henderson and Essang Bassey from last year's 8-5 Demon Deacons.
"I definitely miss them and miss getting that knowledge from them," Taylor said. "Looking back, I really soaked in everything I got from them. Not that I'm in the spotlight, being a captain and a leader in the cornerback room, they really prepared me for this time and I didn't even know it."
Taylor has played in all 40 games in his collegiate career, compiling 88 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions.
"There have been days after tough games, where I got down," Taylor said about his four years wearing the Old Gold & Black. "But there was never a time I thought it was too much. The guys around me made sure I kept a level head — Essang, Amari and Cam Glenn."
It was all-out game prep for Clemson after wrapping up the final scrimmage on Sept. 5.
"I'm excited to play," Taylor said ahead of the Clemson game. "I just want to transition the energy I have for this game coming up to all the younger guys who don't understand — we're playing on national TV against one of the best teams in the country."
It was a long journey just to get to this point for the Demon Deacons. Spring camp was halted after just five practices because of the COVID-19 pandemic, then the team was scattered back to their homes all across the country. A late-summer return to campus came along with a period of quarantine and strict protocols and regular Covid testing.
"Honestly I didn't think we'd make it this far, to be honest, the way things were trending," Taylor said. "When I saw what some other conferences were doing, I didn't think we would have a season. Now that we're on track, the mindset has switched, and it's time to prepare for a game.
"Since the start of camp, we just focused on football. We couldn't think about whether we were playing or not. Once we stepped on the field and had practice, my mindset was on preparing for a game. So, I've been locked in since camp started."
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