April. 5, 2021: 62 days since the commitment of Jerome Williams, the Gophers have finally added another recruit to their 2023 class in the form of Michigan, RB Darius Taylor.
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2023, (Walled Lake, Mich.) RB Darius Taylor verbally committed to Minnesota Tuesday afternoon. Taylor, a 5-foot-11 running back chose the Gophers over 29 other offers, headlined by top offers from Michigan State, Iowa and Wisconsin. 247sports rates Taylor as a 3-star prospect and the No. 31 RB in the country. He now joins a 2023 Minnesota recruiting class with commitments from in-state offensive linemen Jerome Williams and Reese Tripp, laying a terrific foundation for the overall class.
100% COMMITTED 〽️〽️#RTBpic.twitter.com/IZ6Av3NbTz
— Darius Taylor💫 (@dariustaylor_14) April 5, 2022
Who is Darius Taylor?:
- Scouting Report:
The best instant comparison for Taylor’s playstyle is Bucky Irving. They have almost the exact same build ~5-foot-10 and 190 pounds. You can clearly tell that Taylor used to be a WR, as catching the ball out of the backfield looks natural for him. He has terrific short-area quickness, which is exactly something you want from a player his size. Taylor even has the versatility to line up as a true WR in the slot or outside. His route running is terrific making him a very versatile player. RB coach Kenni Burns is building a track record for developing great RB talent, and Taylor has the chance to be next in line for the Maroon & Gold.
**High School Football Hudl Highlights:
Instant Reaction:
Darius Taylor is the type of player that builds great recruiting classes. Great classes obviously need the top-end talent, but sometimes guys ranked three through eight are what makes or breaks how successful the class is. Taylor finally settled into more of an RB role last season and skyrocketed up recruiting boards. With a big senior season, the same trajectory could certainly continue. His versatility as an RB and slot WR makes him an incredibly interesting prospect. A trio of Bucky Irving, Zach Evans and Darius Taylor is terrific for the future of the Gophers backfield.
What is next?:
The Gophers now have three total players verbally committed for their 2023 class. With two offensive linemen and a running back, it is pretty clear what they would like to continue doing as an offense. I think it is still far too early to look specifically into ranking the class as a whole and even the players, but it is looking like a very solid foundation for the class. Anthony Brown, who decommitted earlier this year, would’ve obviously taken it to another level, but this is still a great start and there is still a LONG way to go.
Full 2023 class:
- OL Reese Tripp
- OL Jerome Williams
- RB Darius Taylor