Peninsula Male Athlete of the Year
It would be difficult to overestimate the excitement about the future career of Hampton Football star Tyrod Taylor. Taylor, one of the most heavily recruited players in the nation, put together an outstanding senior season to follow up his junior year in which he quarterbacked for his team all the way to the division five state championship.
One player alone can not make a football team great - but in the case of Taylor, one player can certainly make a big difference. In terms of pure athletic ability, Taylor is as good as they come. At the quarterback position, he has all of the tools necessary to be a great athlete, and he certainly has shown that he knows how to take advantage of his abilities. In his junior season, Taylor was outstanding, passing for 1,544 yards and nine touchdowns and rushing for 1,044 yards and 21 touchdowns. That season definitely set the bar high for Tyrod's senior encore, but he did not disappoint.
Taylor improved on his offensive production last season by passing for over 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushing for 800 yards and 15 touchdowns. His season was good enough to lead the Crabbers out of the regional playoffs and all the way to the semifinals of the Division five state playoffs.
Taylor's explosive abilities were showcased last season during a regular-season win against Phoebus when he was responsible for 416 total yards of offense.
Taylor's statistical improvement over his career is a bright light shining on his future as a football player, especially since next year he will be joining the Division I college ranks as a member of the Virginia Tech Hokies.
In addition to being a great football player, Taylor was able to channel his athleticism onto the basketball court, where his raw ability produced a number of exciting moments for the Crabbers on the hardwood as well as on the gridiron.
Tyrod Taylor is undoubtedly a special athlete, and will be watched closely by many sports fans in the Hampton Roads area as he moves on and adds to his already sparkling high school career.
