MIDSHIPMEN NOTEBOOK
Taylors More Than an Average Joe and Joey
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Saturday, August 25, 2007
Joseph B. Taylor is a 6-foot, 196-pound junior on the Navy football team; he plays safety.
Joseph A. Taylor is a 5-11, 194-pound junior on the team. Until a few days ago, he also played safety.
Joseph A. Taylor -- a.k.a. Joe Taylor -- moved to outside linebacker last week. He has further distinguished himself by rising to a possible No. 2 spot on the depth chart.
Joe is listed No. 3, but is behind a pair of probable starters -- seniors Matt Humiston and Matt Wimsatt.
"It's been four or five days, and each day I'm getting a better feel," he said. "I'll play anywhere. I'd even play punter if the coaches want."
Joseph B. Taylor -- a.k.a. Joey Taylor -- is listed No. 3 at free safety and rover.
Joe adds speed and coverage skills to the outside linebackers.
He was recruited to Navy as a quarterback. At Washington & Lee High in Montross, Va., Joe was named the Group A player of the year in 2003. He finished his career in 2004 with 71 touchdown passes; at the time it was the seventh-most in state history.
Yet he arrived at the Naval Academy Prep School to realize he was one of several quarterbacks and one of two Joe Taylors.
The pair compromised on their names.
"I stayed Joe because that's what I'd been my whole life," he said. "Joey had been a bunch of other names, so he changed."
Defensive coordinator Buddy Green said Joe was given "a battlefield promotion" the day before the second preseason scrimmage last week. He finished with four tackles.
Joe also is making the most of his non-unique name on the roster.
"People [at the academy] get us confused sometimes," he said. "It's a crazy situation. We're separated by one initial and a few [social security] numbers."
And what about having two Joseph Taylors in the same class at the academy?
"Sometimes it can get me into trouble and sometimes it can get me out of trouble," Joe said.
Getting Ready
Navy held a situational scrimmage yesterday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy Coach Paul Johnson said he expected to give the team last night and today off before resuming practice tomorrow.
The Midshipmen open at Temple on Friday.
