QB Taylor talks Illini pledge

Illinois landed its first commitment in the class of 2018 with a pledge from Peoria (Ill.) quarterback Coran Taylor.

Illinois has been considered the favored since they offered Taylor in December. The new Illini commit talked about what he saw in the program. He was recently in Champaign for a visit.

"The academics, the players' feedback on the program, the coaches, and the love they offered to me when I arrived on the campus," Taylor said.

In a prolific junior campaign, Taylor passed for 1,542 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for another 1,671 rushing yards and 22 TD's in leading the Lions to a state title.

Peoria was the first team in Illinois high school football history to score 800 or more points in a season, averaging 57.6 points per game.

Taylor capped off the season with an electrifying performance in the IHSA Class 5A state championship game in Champaign with a combined 345 yards and five touchdowns.

Taylor fits the mold of the dual-threat quarterback coveted by offensive coordinator Garrick McGee.

"He liked that I have the ability to run," Taylor said. "They want to implement the run more. I'm always working on my throwing and doing things that a pro-style quarterback can do in the pocket."

Taylor committed to the Illini early Monday morning. He spent Saturday in Chicagoland participating in Nike's The Opening regionals, along with hundreds of top prospects from around the Midwest.

Illinois signed Taylor's former teammate, defensive lineman Kendrick Green, in the class of 2017.

"Kendrick knew I always wanted to go there, so he was saying 'just commit, just commit'," Taylor said. "And the school is close to home, and the family can come out and watch me play."

Taylor set the bar high when asked what Illini fans can expect from him and the team once he arrives in 2018.

"Big Ten championships," he said. "I feel like the program is going in the right direction with Coach Lovie Smith and all the guys he brought with him."

It was important for the Illini to land their first commitment in 2018 and hopefully open the flood gates. Grabbing a downstate star is a good way to get started. Illinois can't let talented kids from central Illinois get away.

Taylor's lack of offers was due primarily to work he still needs to get done academically. Power 5 coaches also wanted to see him throw in person this summer. There's no question about his play-making ability, but he needs work mechanically in the passing game.

Taylor is a prolific runner and top athlete who fits well with what offensive coordinator Garrick McGee wants to do with the offense. He's an instinctual and physical runner, and will be used in a read-option attack.

As a passer, Taylor is raw and needs coaching. He has Big Ten arm strength and will be able to make all of the throws, but it's going take him time to be comfortable as thrower at the college level. He throws the deep ball well, but needs refinement as a pocket passer.

Ideally, Taylor takes a redshirt year behind JUCO transfer Dwayne Lawson to learn the offense and adjust to the speed of the college game. Once he gets on the field, Taylor gives the Illini a plus athlete at the quarterback position who can be the dynamic play-maker that McGee wants at the position.