Sept. 10, 2014
- Hawkeye Football Game Day
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- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
By DARREN MILLER
hawkeyesports.comIOWA CITY, Iowa — Perhaps the greatest compliment is when a head coach refers to someone as a football player.
That is how University of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz discusses true freshman defensive back Miles Taylor, one of three Hawkeye first-year players to see action during the first two weeks of the season.
“He is one of those guys — he’s a football player,” Ferentz said of Taylor, a 6-foot, 185-pound native of Silver Spring, Maryland. “He enjoys the game, he has a good energy level about him, and he’s very enthusiastic. He’s learned quickly. It’s all positive.”
Taylor is listed as the backup to senior John Lowdermilk at strong safety. He also plays on kickoff and punt return teams.
“I go out there and give as much effort as I can and try to help the team win,” Taylor said Wednesday in an exclusive interview with hawkeyesports.com. “That’s my job and that’s what I’m here to do.”
Taylor was a three-year starter in football at Gonzaga College (Maryland) High School; he is the first player in school history to win two defensive MVP honors. He committed to the University of Iowa in January, approximately two weeks before signing day. He had never been to a game in Kinnick Stadium.
“Walking out the tunnel for the first time; coming out to the stadium in Back in Black was pretty sweet,” Taylor said.
During the recruiting process, UI assistant coach Chris White sent Taylor a video of the Hawkeyes’ game day entrance, but it wasn’t like being there live.
“The thing about Kinnick is that it’s nonstop,” Taylor said. “It’s crazy with all the fans yelling and screaming.”
Iowa is off to a 2-0 start to a season for the first time since 2010. The Hawkeyes host Iowa State (0-2) on Saturday with the Cy-Hawk Trophy on the line. Iowa won last season in Ames, 27-21.
“I don’t have any individual goals, I just want to win the championship, win every game as a team and play hard,” Taylor said. “I will make sure I give 100 percent effort every time I step on the field.”
Taylor views teammates Lowdermilk and junior free safety Jordan Lomax as role models. Taylor credits them for helping slow the game done for him and for fine-tuning his technique.
