Chicagoland QB Trae Taylor makes two visits to Michigan this spring

It’s never too early to be thinking about the future, especially the quarterback position as Michigan continues to eye a soon-to-be freshman from an area heavily recruited by the program.

Trae Taylor, out of Lake in the Hills (Ill.) Crystal Lake, located northwest of downtown Chicago, made two separate returns to Michigan earlier this spring, including for the exhibition played at The Big House earlier in April. He also took in a practice last month.

Definitely the fact that I got to see the tempo of practice,” Taylor told The Wolverine. Not only that, I also got to see my boys in action, like Semaj Morgan and JJ McCarthy. What was also cool about the visit was that I got to see Coach Campbell for the first time.”

Meeting new Michigan quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell would set the precedent for every future trip to Ann Arbor for Taylor, who has been a frequent visitor on campus going back to his early days in middle school.

Now that I was able to talk to (Campbell), I think that he’s a really cool guy and I think he’s a very good coach,” Taylor said. I think he’s going to help out the team a lot this year. We had a good conversation about what it takes to be a quarterback at Michigan and about life. Just a normal conversation. I just really liked him.”

Taylor has a longstanding connection with Morgan, the freshman early enrollee wide receiver, because of their time together with SoundMind SoundBody, a year-round training and recruiting exposure academy operated in Detroit and its suburbs.

Despite Taylor living out-of-state, he regularly makes the four-hour drive to southeast Michigan to work with quarterback trainer Donovan Dooley and take part in 7v7 events.

It was great seeing Semaj,” Taylor said. He looked like he was having a lot of fun and doing his thing. It was cool finally getting to see him in action and in pads. Me and Semaj are very close. I met him through his dad (Semaj Morgan Sr.) because he was my 7v7 coach last year. Right away, me and (Semaj Sr.) kicked it off and he introduced me to his son.

Me and Semaj have a very close connection. I was there on his signing day event. He’s a role model and definitely helps me see what I should be doing and what I shouldn’t be doing. He’s a guy who I look up to and he’s just an all-around good person.”

The Chicago connection and quarterback connection between Taylor and McCarthy has gotten them to relate to one another well, regardless of the age difference.

Whenever we see each other, JJ always gives me a hug,” Taylor said. It was definitely good to see him again. I’ve gotten to see him play at Michigan after seeing him play at Nazareth (Academy) and at IMG (Academy). He’s also a very good person. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him not smile. He looks like he’s always having fun and that’s one thing I look up to. Have fun because football isn’t forever.”

When watching McCarthy and the rest of the quarterback room compete against the defense, there were plenty of observations that Taylor plans on taking back with him to his high school starting in the fall.

Definitely their leadership and how they take control,” Taylor said. How much they show that being a quarterback is very important. Whether it’s throwing the ball, talking to the wide receivers, talking to coaches or body language. How you act on the field. I don’t know the other quarterbacks that well personally but I definitely saw what it takes to be a Michigan quarterback.”

Maryland is the first Power 5 school to deliver an offer to Taylor, who’s consistency with taking unofficial visits in the early going has allowed him to get in close with various coaching staffs, like at Michigan State.

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