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2012 Intro | Taylor Wrice
By Warren Lent | 4/18/10 |
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For most
high school athletes, playing football is just a hobby
and a way to unleash tension built up through out the
school week. For Taylor Wrice though, football is a long
awaited escape from all the malicious things life has in
store. The game of football has been deeply rooted in
the life of Taylor Wrice and those roots are as healthy
as ever. “I first really started football when I was
little. My cousins and my uncles always played football
and I just grew into it. It all started in my backyard.
I lived in a building, and when my family came over we
would always play catch or something. Going to my
cousins pop Warner games always inspired me too because
I just loved seeing him play.”
Cornerback was not the position of choice at the
beginning of Wrice’s career at Malden High School, but
he quickly became enveloped in the attitude of a
cornerback. “I’m really competitive so whenever I feel
like there are people better than me, I always feel like
I have to strive to be better than them. People always
told me that I had a cornerbacks build and I played
really well at cornerback. One person I really admire is
Joe Haden. Whenever I was watching the Florida Gators, I
always tried to follow him and see what he was doing on
the field.”
Wrice’s transfer to Bristol Eastern High School was made
so he would be able to get a better opportunity in a
more stable home. The move was difficult, but football
stayed a constant in his life through out the whole
process. The gridiron was a sanctuary where Wrice and
his teammates thrived through most of the season. “My
team went 13-1 during the year, but I wish we went
farther than that. For myself, I felt like I did pretty
well, but there will always be room for improvement.”
With raw talent a given, Wrice knows there are certain
traits that must be enhanced before his junior season.
“I definitely have to work on my technique because most
of what I know now is based off of what I learned in
camps. I also want to try and get a better sense of
where the ball will be thrown. Instincts are a huge part
of a successful cornerback.”
Still only a sophomore, Taylor Wrice has received more
than enough attention from some of the best football
programs the country can offer. “Right now, the main
school is Florida. That’s one of the schools that I
like. I have talked with a lot of people from Florida.
Rutgers is another school that I have been in contact
with. I also like Boston College and I am going to their
summer camp too. When it all comes down to it though, I
would choose Florida.”
Interestingly enough though, Florida did not make it to
the top of Wrice’s list when it comes to favorite teams
to watch on Saturday’s. “Football to me is like a
religion, so I have always liked to watch Texas. I loved
Friday Night Lights and I’ve read the book a couple
times too. Down there is where football is going on 24/7
and almost everything revolves around football. That’s
the type of lifestyle I want to be apart of.”
The blissful emotions felt while watching the mighty
Permian Panthers hoist that state championship trophy
has been infectious for many football players over the
years. It is safe to say that Taylor Wrice has been
contaminated with a bug that seemingly every football
player loves to have. “State Championship, that’s what I
want. I want a ring man.”
Passion for football has become so strong within Wrice,
not even a brutal injury could take him away from the
game that has raised him. “First, I want an education.
If football doesn’t work out, or something happens to
me, I want something to help me stay near football.”
The driving force behind Taylor Wrice’s quest for
football glory has nothing to do with fame. Wrice purely
wants to break out and exceed any and all expectations
set upon him. “My motivation is my mother, and my
family. I just want to get them out of wherever they are
right now. I want to be able to have people look at me
and say, look, that’s Taylor Wrice on TV! He rose up
through so much and just accomplished everything he put
his mind on. I am not going to be just another statistic
from Boston. I want to actually make it somewhere.
That’s what I want. That’s what motivates me.”
Forums |
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 250
Spring Edition
Full 250 |
1. Jadeveon Clowney/DE/South
Pointe (SC)/
2. La'el
Collins/OT/Redemptorist (LA)/
3. Teddy
Bridgewater/ATH/Northwestern (FL)/
4. Tim Jernigan/DT/Columbia (FL)/
5. George Farmer/WR/Serra (CA)/ |
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