Gabe Taylor was six-years old when his older brother Sean Taylor was murdered nearly 13 years ago during a robbery attempt at his Miami home. The younger brother of the Washington Football Team legend will now make his collegiate debut Saturday at safety for Rice against Conference USA rival Middle Tennessee State.
The 19-year old true freshman understands the comparisons to his larger-than-life brother. He also embraces the pressure that follows for being the kid brother of Sean Taylor.
“Oh, there’s for sure pressure right now,” Taylor said, according to Jake Russell of the Washington Post. “I always wanted pressure my whole life. I’m not going to shy away from it.”
Gabe Taylor spent his first three years of high school playing basketball. It wasn’t until his senior year he gave into the football coaches requests of him following in his late brother’s footsteps. Taylor starred in his lone year on the gridiron at Gulliver Prep, playing on Sean Taylor Memorial Field.
Despite being smaller than his brother at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, Taylor stood out on the field. He had 10 interceptions, returning five for touchdowns, drawing interest from Rice’s coaching staff in recruitment.
“The ball loves him,” Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren said. “I don’t know how else to say it. He is around the freakin’ ball. His anticipation of things is out of sight. He’s a really good safety that sees the game — especially for his lack of experience playing it — he sees the game and feels the game so incredibly well.”
At Rice, Taylor has already garnered the attention of many thanks to a hit he delivered during a practice that went viral earlier this month.
In Washington, Sean Taylor is revered as a legend. His hard-hitting style along along with his speed and range has been idolized by Washington fans. Some of that love has been showered to the younger Gabe.
While Taylor is now focused on his first collegiate game, he also hopes that maybe one day he can continue following his brother’s footsteps by donning the burgundy and gold of the Washington Football Team.
“I love the fans in Washington,” Taylor said. “They always show love. They say they want me to come play for them. Hopefully that comes one year.”
