Tristen Taylor

Offensive Tackle / Eastern Washington

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Tristen Taylor:  Height is 6’6 and 325. 

Alex Khvatov:  How did you prepare for the 2020 season with no offseason training?

Tristen Taylor:  Back at home, I have a private gym that I go to.  My brother is a power lifter.  They workout in the garage. 

Alex Khvatov:  What positions did you play in high school? 

Tristen Taylor:  I mainly played LT, but midway through my senior year, they put me at DE. 

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Tristen Taylor:  Eastern Washington was my first offer.  I also had Idaho, Weber State, and UNLV came in late. 

Alex Khvatov:  How did you wind up at Eastern Washington? 

Tristen Taylor:  I liked the coaches.  They kept in contact.  It made it feel right. 

Alex Khvatov:  How would you describe your overall career?        

Tristen Taylor:  As a team, we had two good years since I have been here.  Freshman year, I started every game, and we lost in the semifinal of the playoffs.  I was moved to OG my sophomore year, and we didn’t make the playoffs.  During the third game of my junior year, I got hurt.  I was playing OT.  Our team made it to the championship.  Last year, I started at LT, and we didn’t make the playoffs.  I can play all five positions. 

Alex Khvatov:  What can we expect from your team this upcoming season? 

Tristen Taylor:  We will do pretty good.  We have returners on offense and defense.  We should win the Big Sky and go to the playoffs. 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Tristen Taylor:  I am good in pass pro and run blocking.  I have high football IQ.  I watch a lot of film.  I can tell where they will blitz from. 

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Tristen Taylor:  Definitely getting faster footwork and keep getting more knowledge of the game. 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Tristen Taylor:  Beating Washington State on the road my freshman year.  It was my first collegiate start. 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff? 

Tristen Taylor:  Hard work and do your best with what you have. 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Tristen Taylor:  On the O-line, it is Taylor Lewan and Joe Thomas.  Overall, Aaron Donald is my favorite player. 

Alex Khvatov:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?

Tristen Taylor:  QB Eric Barriere, DT Keith Moore, and WR Talolo Limu-Jones. 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?

Tristen Taylor:  Samson Ebukam my freshman year.  He was on my team.  He was the best player that I ever played against.  The best player on an opposing team was DL Greg Menard from NDSU. 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for an OL?

Tristen Taylor:  Just being a grinder and loving the game. 

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Tristen Taylor:  Winning.  But I also like beating people.  I get joy out of beating down the opponents. 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Tristen Taylor:  I like to play Xbox, go fishing and shoot guns. 

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?

Tristen Taylor:  I graduate in two or three weeks.  My major is in criminal justice.  I want to work on the border or highway patrol. 

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you?

Tristen Taylor:  Trustworthy, loyal, hard worker, grinder, and caring.