R100 DB Taylor talks LSU

A visitor list as talented as the one at LSU last weekend for the Alabama is rarely assembled. Richmond (Va.) St. Christopher's Rivals100 defensive back Garrett Taylor was on hand to experience everything the Tigers had to offer.

"It was a great visit," said the 6-foot-1, 188-pound Taylor. "I had a really good time down there. The game was crazy. Everybody pretty much stayed the whole time. There was like 102,000 fans there. It was honestly the best game day experience I ever had. They were loud the entire time. We got there at about 10:30 in the morning and people were already out there tailgating. I enjoyed it a lot."

Getting to sit down and have a conversation with the coaches was a big deal to Taylor.

"Talking with the coaches was pretty cool," he said. "They're all pretty laid-back. They were all really hospitable and easy to talk to. It seemed like they were really interested and happy that I was there. They made my mom feel welcome. I got to sit down with coach Raymond and talk football with him. It was good to see where he was coming from and how much knowledge he has. He played at LSU he played in the league for six years so he knew a lot about being a defensive back. I get to talk to coach Miles and that was a great talk too.

"That was definitely big for me," Taylor said. "Coach Raymond was talking about all the different techniques they have. It was great to see how much he knew and how much he would be able to teach me about playing cornerback."

Taylor met up with fellow Virginia-native and Rivals250 prospect Matthew Burrell Jr. down in the Bayou.

"I got to talk to Matthew Burrell," he said. "I saw him the day after the game and I think he was on his official visit. He said he definitely loved the atmosphere and that there is only one SEC. He liked LSU. That was the kind of vibe I got from everyone. Everyone was enjoying being on the field with that crowd and everyone had a good time. A lot of recruits definitely liked what they saw."

LSU is not the only program that is in play for the former Michigan commit.

"One of the other schools I'm talking to is Penn State," said Taylor. "Stanford is talking to me a little bit. I'm not really in touch with some of the other schools as much.

"I definitely see an up trending program at Penn State," he said. "Coach Franklin did it when he got to Vanderbilt and I definitely think he's doing it now at Penn State. You can see it in the recruiting classes he's bringing in. They're really good across the board. Coach Franklin has come to the Penn State program and kind of revitalized it and put more life into it to turn things around. I think people are responding to it. I'm excited to get up on my Penn State visit to see what's up there. I'll see if I like it when I get there."

Taylor is scheduled to take official visits to Penn State on November 28 and Ohio State on November 21.

"The stuff with Ohio State and the way it's sorting out, it looks like it might fall through because they already have five or six defensive backs in the class," Taylor said. "I would have to wait to see if something opened up and then take my visit. I definitely was interested in Ohio State but the way things are shaping up right now things look like it may not be what they were."

Taylor took an unofficial visit to Virginia Tech recently and the in-state school is very much in the picture.

"I'm in touch with Virginia Tech almost weekly," he said. "Coach Beamer will message me two or three times a week. I'll talk to coach Gray. Contact has stayed pretty steady throughout."

Taylor, who tore his ACL in the offseason, is working on planning official visits to Virginia Tech and LSU.