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Ex-Vol assistant Trooper Taylor returns to Knoxville with Arkansas State
By Jason Hall
Published:
A familiar face will stand on the opposite sidelines at Neyland Stadium this Saturday.
Former assistant head coach Trooper Taylor will return to Knoxville as a member of Arkansas State’s coaching staff when the Vols host the Red Wolves this Saturday. Taylor currently serves as the assistant coach and cornerbacks coach.
Taylor served as Tennessee’s assistant head coach from 2004-07, working as the wide receivers coach during his final two seasons after coaching running backs from 2004-05. In that span, the Vols made three bowl appearances including the 2005 and 2007 Cotton Bowl and the 2008 Outback Bowl. Tennessee finished with two 10-win seasons, 34 total wins and finished ranked among the top-25 teams in the nation three times while Taylor was a member of the coaching staff.
As running backs coach, Taylor led the Vols to a No. 24 national ranking in rushing yards (186.0 ypg). Gerald Riggs Jr. and Cedric Houston became UT’s first pair of 1,000-yard rushers in the same season in 2004. In his second season, Taylor coached future NFL All-Pro running back Arian Foster.
As the wide receivers coach, Taylor led Tennessee to a No. 12 ranking in passing yards with 264.5 yards per game in 2006. He coached future first-round NFL draft pick Robert Meachem to a No. 4 national ranking in receiving yards (99.9 ypg) and earn All-America recognition. The Vols ranked No. 35 nationally in 2007 with 262.5 yards per game.
When asked how well he knows the former Vol assistant, current Tennessee head coach Butch Jones said the following:
“Just a little bit, not much,” Jones said during his weekly press conference. “I understand just being at Tennessee and being a long time coach in the SEC. I have had the chance to meet him a few times but not a personal relationship. Just met him and know people who know him that speak fondly of him.”
Tennessee will host Arkansas State on Saturday at 12:00 pm ET. The Red Wolves are coming off a 37-10 win over Montana State and were 8-5 (5-2) last season.
A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky
