Miles Taylor may not be able to fly under the radar much longer.
By Danny Payne
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LOS ANGELES — Miles Taylor stood in a room full of his teammates and coaches, some of whom were talking to the media. Iowa’s strong safety, however, kept a relatively low profile.
He’s done that the whole season, both on and off the field. That tends to happen when a fellow defensive back is picking off quarterbacks and when a middle linebacker is forcing his way into stardom.
“Those guys shine — they deserve the attention, they deserve the credit they get, they’re a big part of our winning,” the soft-spoken Taylor said on Tuesday at his team’s media day heading into the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl. “I don’t mind going under the radar at all; I like it.”
He may not be able to do so much longer. Free safety Jordan Lomax’s last game in an Iowa uniform will take place Jan. 1. Desmond King could very well forgo his senior season to begin an NFL career. If those two things happen, that’s five years’ worth of starting experience leaving the defensive backfield.
Taylor and cornerback Greg Mabin, a two-year starter, would become “the guys” in the secondary. Hawkeye fans will likely know what they’re getting with Mabin: a strong ability to defend the run, up-and-down production in pass coverage, but Taylor could make the biggest impact.
Defensive coordinator Phil Parker called him a “violent” football player earlier this season; “he loves to hit you,” free safety Jordan Lomax said.
He’s shown flashes that should make Hawkeye fans salivate. His play against Maryland, when he set a season-high 8 tackles (which he hit again against Minnesota two games later) is an example of what he could be and what he has to improve to lead the defensive backfield going forward.
In the first quarter, he intercepted a Perry Hills pass, but fumbled the return, which Maryland recovered. The good came with the bad, which Taylor said has happened all season. He’s happy Iowa is ranked No. 5, 12-1, and in the Rose Bowl, but he believes he has more than ample room to improve.
“To help the team get better and help myself,” Taylor said. “I need to work on my ball skills, my feet, my eyes going over to next year.”
While Taylor may be underselling his play, that type of self-criticism is an important trait for a football player, especially one who will have an expanded role in the back end next year. Even if King stays, the sophomore will still have to help the new free safety (presumably Brandon Snyder) mesh in his starting spot.
In only his second year, he could be one of the most important faces in a Hawkeye secondary coming off of a potential 13-victory, Rose Bowl season. And, his teammates said, he’s begun to make that happen.
“He’s always wanted to make a statement for himself, but at the same time, he’s out there helping his teammates,” King said. “That’s what’s bringing him up; he’s out there helping other people and not just himself.
“It’s kind of showing what kind of leader he can be when the future comes.”
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