Alex Taylor

Offensive Tackle / South Carolina State

Ed Hunt:  Tell us about the experience of being here at the Senior Bowl. 

Alex Taylor:  It is a crazy experience.  All of these interviews.  It is just different from what I though it would be.  I thought that I would talk football with a few people here and there. 

Ed Hunt:   How did it feel out there on the first day of practice?

Alex Taylor:  It felt pretty good.  Good first day.  First day jitters.  Out here, trying to compete.

Ed Hunt:  I know guys were in shells, but how did it feel going in the one on one’s against edge rushers?

Alex Taylor:  For offensive line and defensive line, shells is really like full pads.  I felt pretty good.  It felt pretty good to get my feet wet.  See how everybody plays.  Just to see my technique and how I’m going to develop.

Ed Hunt:  What are you trying to show the scouts out here this week?

Alex Taylor:  That I can play.  Just because I came from a smaller school, I can play with the best of them.  I think I did okay today besides the offsides penalty and one other play, I felt like I did pretty decent.

Ed Hunt:  Did you notice a change in practice competition coming from South Carolina State?

Alex Taylor:  Not too much.  Some people are good with their hands.  I see a lot of difference from my level to the big schools, they are just good with their hands.

Ed Hunt:  How did you feel about your movement and your feet?

Alex Taylor:  It felt pretty good.  It’s just the snap count is different, so I’m just getting used to it.  Other than the snap count, everything was good.

Ed Hunt:  How is the language?

Alex Taylor:  It’s definitely different.  It’s a numbers system here, so there’s a lot of things that changed, but I’m picking up on it.

Ed Hunt:  Is there anything from Bengals coaches that you can take with you into the draft?

Alex Taylor:  He’s a good coach.  He’s teaching us a lot.  Just technique wise, learning your zone calls.  It’s a lot of stuff.

Ed Hunt:  Do you feel that you can keep that aggressiveness with shells on?

Alex Taylor: Yes, sir!  I definitely can.  O-line and D-line is really full pads.  You’re not cutting out here, so bottoms don’t really do anything.

Ed Hunt:  As a self-assessment, biggest strengths at this point?

Alex Taylor:  Probably pass pro.  I feel like I’m pretty good in pass pro.   

Ed Hunt:  What are some of the things you are trying to work on between here and the draft?

Alex Taylor:  Staying low when I engage, bringing my hips with me.  I’m tall, so I am just trying to keep my center of gravity low.  My run blocking.   

Ed Hunt:  You hired an agent and you have a place to work out until the draft?

Alex Taylor:  I am in Tempe, Arizona.

Ed Hunt:  Is there something that scouts are telling you about your game?

Alex Taylor:  Same thing, I told you.  Staying low, showing I could bend.  Showing I could redirect on an inside pass move.

Ed Hunt:  How did you feel about your weigh-in numbers?

Alex Taylor:  I felt pretty good.  I thought I was going to be lighter than I was, but I felt pretty good though.

Ed Hunt:  How did you wind up at South Carolina State? 

Alex Taylor:  I was at Appalachian State first.  I was there for two years.  I felt like it wasn’t the place for me at the time.  I left a scholarship.  I had to walk-on somewhere.  I wanted to make it easier on my mom.  I chose an in-state school.  I was recruited by South Carolina State.  I did a tryout, and the rest was history. 

Ed Hunt:  What was the biggest highlight for you in college?

Alex Taylor:  Definitely, this past year.  We tied with North Carolina A&T for the conference title.  We went 5-6 the previous year.  It was a big turnaround.  I accomplished all of my goals for the season.     

Ed Hunt:  Did you play basketball due to your height?

Alex Taylor:  I played in high school and at South Carolina State.      

Ed Hunt:  What one word best describes you?

Alex Taylor:  Chill.