UL FB Player Ike Taylor 2001, 2002

[NewsCopy]

Cajun cornerback is second Sun Belt player invited

LOUISIANA La. - The University of Louisiana announced on Tuesday that cornerback Ivan Taylor has accepted an invitation to the 2003 Hula Bowl in Maui, Hawaii. Taylor’s invitation to a post-season bowl marks the first by a Cajuns senior since Brandon Stokley was invited to the 1998 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

The Gretna native has impressed NFL scouts with not only his size (6-1, 193) but also his 4.3 speed. After spending last season as a running back, Taylor is still adjusting to the defensive secondary, a position he earned three letters in at Abramson High School.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for Ivan," said Cajuns secondary coach Gary Bartel. "Every NFL scout will be there, giving Ike the opportunity to make a name for himself."

The Hula Bowl Maui will kick-off at 4:00pm HST / 9:00pm EST on Saturday, February 1, 2003 and will be played at the newly renovated War Memorial Stadium. University of Miami head coach Larry Coker, University of Texas head coach Mack Brown and Marshall University head coach Bob Pruett were named as coaches on April 4. Five additional coaches are expected to be named.

The inaugural Hula Bowl All-Star Football Classic was played on January 5, 1947 and has features such stars as Doak Walker, Otto Graham, Mike Garrett, Steve Owens, O.J. Simpson, Jim Plunkett, Tony Dorsett, Billy Sims, Rashaan Salaam, Danny Wuerffel, Ricky Williams, Zach Thomas and Ron Dayne.

Kordell Stewart was the Most Valuable Player of the 1994 Hula Bowl game. He had a 72-yard run in leading his West team to a 20-9 victory over the East.

His performance elevated Stewart to the 27th pick in the second round of the NFL draft, higher than predicted before his appearance in the game.

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[Louisiana]

Born on May 05,1980, in New Orleans, LA
Oldest of three children-two younger sisters-of Herman Francois
Home Town Gretna LA
High School: Abramsom

Major: General Studies

Cornerback
6'1", 193 lbs.
speed: 4.45 40 (pre senior while a running back)

Post Louisiana Tests
Timed at 4.33 in the 40-yard dash
42-inch vertical jump
10'9" broad jump
350-pound bench press
435-pound squat
255-pound power clean
32¼-inch arm length
8 7/8-inch hands

[Louisiana]

Ivan was a three-year letterman as a running back, defensive end, cornerback and kicker for head coach Dave Titos

Ivan helped lead the Commodores to appearances in the state playoffs from 1996-98. The Commodores finished 10-1 in Ivan's senior season, while Ivan was named to the All-District 9-5A teams in 1997 and 1998.

Ivan had basketball skills as well as the was a three-year letterman for coach Bob Toranto and helped lead the Commodores to three straight playoff appearances from 1996-98, capped off by a 25-6 record in 1998. That same season he was an All-District 9-5A honoree.

[Louisiana]

Ivan Taylor joined the team as a walk-on.

He did not play football in either 1999 or 2000 as he sat out the seasons to focus on studies and become academically eligible.

[Louisiana]

Ivan earned a scholarship prior to the 2001 season.

Coach Baldwin used his speedy player on offense mainly as a running back, but also spent time as a wide receiver. Ivan played in every game on special teams and saw action as a tailback in nine contests.

For 2001 Ivan, scored three touchdowns, including an impressive 48-yard jaunt against Arizona State.

His best day as a rusher came against North Texas, when he ran for 91-yards on 11 carries, and scored on a 65-yard scamper. In this same game he also caught 9 passes for 65 yards against the Mean Green.

One week earlier, Ivan tallied 92 yards versus New Mexico State, with a 20-yard touchdown run

Ivan Taylor finished his junior campaign as the Ragin’ Cajuns second leader rusher with 323 yards on 70 carries for a 4.6 yard average and scored 3 touchdowns.

He also compiled 125 receiving yards on 18 catches for a 6.9 yard average and returned 18 kickoffs for 280 yards a 15.6 yard average.

In a tuneup for his future role IT recorded 3 solo tackles.

[Louisiana]

Super Sleeper Team and All-Sunbelt Conference second-team selection by The NFL Draft Report. Was featured on ESPN's College Gameday Show. Ivan was moved into the starting lineup at right cornerback where he recorded 46 tackles (34 solos) with 8 pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles. He did not allow an opponent to catch a pass in four games. Also returned 9 kickoffs for 210 yards (23.3 average).

Texas A&M - Knocked receiver Jamaar Taylor out of the game with a clothesline tackle, making 7 tackles and deflecting 3 passes in his first career start on defense.

Minnesota - Batted away a pass and posted 4 solo tackles while also flushing QB Asad Abdul-Khaliq out of the pocket and into the arms of ULL's Sampson Walter, who caused a fumble that resulted in a safety.

Houston - Made 3 solo stops and deflected a pass.

UAB - Deflected a pass in the corner of the end zone and held Willie Quinnie to no receptions, the first time in 34 games that the UAB wideout did not catch a pass.

LSU - Held receiver Jerrel Myers to no catches before knocking him out of the game with an ankle sprain, then, held Myers' replacement, Devon Henderson to only a 20-yard catch and later caused a fumble on a bone-jarring tackle that broke the arm of tailback LaBrandon Toefield.

New Mexico State - Did not allow a reception while posting 6 tackles (5 solos) … Returned a kickoff 15 yards.

Middle Tennessee - Chased down tailback ReShard Lee at the opposite end of the field, preventing a touchdown, knocked receiver Tyrone Calico out of the game with a knee sprain, causing a fumble on the play, registered 6 solo tackles and returned a kickoff 26 yards.

North Texas - Gained 64 yards on a pair of kickoff returns, including a season-long 48-yarder.
Idaho - Collected 2 solo tackles and returned a kickoff 18 yards.

Arkansas State - Batted down a pass in the end zone and delivered 5 tackles (4 solos).

Arkansas - Had 3 solo stops and a 15-yard kickoff return.

ULM - Closed out his career with 6 tackles (3 solos), a pass deflection inside the red zone and returned 2 kickoffs for 51 yards, including a 32-yarder.

Source

After being moved-his senior year-to his proper position Ivan was invited to the hULa Bowl.

[Turbine]

Congratulions, Ivan, on getting a-win enabling-fumble recovery, in the HULA bowl.

[Pirogue]

[NewsCopy]

Positives: Hard hitter with above-average muscle definition, quickness and balance … Has a good feel for the ball, maintaining eye contact on the receiver while tracking the ball in flight … Has the explosive burst to quickly recover when beaten long … Shows good knee bend and a smooth and easy turning motion coming out of his backpedal … Makes proper zone adjustments and anticipates the quarterback's moves well … Gets a sharp break on the ball and times his jumps perfectly to combat the receiver for the pass … Very flexible in his hip turn and has strength in his legs to go low and jolt ball carriers when stepping up to fill rush lanes … Type of player that initiates contact, rather than wait for the play to develop … Compensates for a lack of experience with his raw athletic ability, quickness and ball anticipation skills to maintain leverage … Blessed with exceptional speed … Also excels on special teams, adding another dimension to his game as a breakaway threat as a kickoff returner … Takes on blocks with aggression, doing a nice job of using his hands to defeat combo blocks.

Needs to develop better hand usage as he will get caught holding the receivers upfield … Sometimes gets a little too aggressive, causing him to over-pursue … While he will get his fair share of pass deflections, he's more of a body catcher, which turns sure interceptions into muffed pass deflections … Still developing a feel for his position, having played on offense until his senior year.

CAREER NOTES
Called by many one of the finest athletes in college football, Ivan made the transition from offense to the defensive backfield as a senior … Always known for his "team first" attitude, he quickly adapted to his new role, despite showing great promise late in his junior campaign as a tailback … Only played two seasons of collegiate football, but managed to record 49 tackles (37 solos) with 8 pass deflections and 2 forced fumbles on defense, adding 323 yards and 3 touchdowns on 70 carries (4.6 average) and 125 yards on 18 receptions (6.9 average) on offense and gained 490 yards on 27 kickoff returns (18.1 average).

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[NewsCopy]

Ivan Taylor - Louisiana

Want to know who has been even more busier than American Airlines flying around this country (to visit a record 27 NFL teams)? Want to know who even coach Tom Shaw, Deion Sanders’ trainer calls, “the best athlete I’ve ever coached” is? Want to know what EVERYONE in the league knows right now? They all “like Ike!” Ivan “Ike” Taylor has only one year of cornerback experience, yet, when teams come to work him out, they leave dumbfounded, shaking their stop watches (4.19 in the 40-yard dash), marveling at this version of Superman (able to leap higher than the tallest building, Ike has a 44-inch vertical), amazed of his physique (3.5% body fat), explosion, quickness and most of all, the greatest word of all – potential. Before all is said and done, this athlete will become just as great of a football player. If not, I am giving up my day job!

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The Red Zone

[CrewChief]

I cannot get over how Rickey Bustle and his staff made NFL players out of these two fine individuals. Congratulations Crew.