The Governors continue their hot streak on the recruiting trail with another massive commitment. On Friday, 3-star running back Marquez Taylor announced his commitment to Austin Peay on his social media.
Clarksville TN! I’m HOME ❤️ @CoachMC_APSU @APSUCoachSW @comer_wade pic.twitter.com/7IKfqMRjlO
— Marquez Taylor (@MarquezTaylor16) January 27, 2023
Taylor is a consensus 3-star prospect out of Mckenzie, TN in the class of 2023. He is rated as the No. 124 athlete and No. 41 player in the state of Tennessee according to 247Sports. The 6-foot, 170-pounder held multiple offers from Power-5 programs including Kentucky, Michigan State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee.
The hype for Marquez Taylor began after his explosive junior season, which led to seven Power-5 offers after the season. Taylor rushed for 1,591 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns, while finishing as the team’s second-leading receiver.
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As a senior, Taylor was a finalist for Tennessee’s Class 1A-Division I Mr. Football and was a first team All-West Tennessee football selection. He finished the season with 1,676 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns. Taylor played an integral role in Mckenzie High School reaching its first state title game since 2007.
“Austin Peay is a great program,” Taylor said to Zach McKinnell from The Bluebloods after his commitment. “Coach Scotty (Walden) is the best head coach in the nation and I stand on that. He is very hyper and I love that energy. Coach (Jourdan) McNeill recruited me everyday. He texted me and called me everyday.”
Taylor has been recruited as both a running back and wide receiver due to his versatility. Over the past two seasons, Taylor has 784 receiving yards and finished last season with six receiving touchdowns. He told The Bluebloods that his plan is to play both positions at Austin Peay throughout his career.
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“I will play both running back and wide receiver at Austin Peay. My skills fit in their offensive system very well. They run a lot of outside zone plays, which gets me out in the open.”
After the commitment of Taylor, Austin Peay now has two commitments in the Top-15 of FCS prospects in the 2023 recruiting class. Taylor joins 3-star defensive lineman Jaden McKinney (No. 158 DT; No. 1409 Overall) as one of the highest rated FCS commitments this offseason.
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