From The Road: Thoughts, notes on Michigan LB commit Chase Taylor

The Wolverine attended three-star Stockbridge (Ga.) High linebacker and Michigan commit Chase Taylor‘s season opener on Friday.

At 6-foot-2.5, 215 pounds, Taylor is listed as the No. 630 overall prospect and No. 67 player in the state of Georgia, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four primary recruiting media services. On3 ranks him as the No. 58 linebacker nationally.

What Happened

Taylor rarely saw time on the sidelines in Friday’s 47-28 loss. The game was called off early in the fourth quarter due to weather conditions, but Taylor finished with five total tackles, including three solo and two for a loss. He nearly had a sack in the first quarter but was held by the pass-blocking running back. He got reps at MIKE, WILL, EDGE, and even nickel. Offensively, he was an in-line tight end, slot receiver, and H-back. Taylor also caught a red zone touchdown and collected three total receptions.

His athleticism makes it difficult for Stockbridge not to find ways to utilize him on both sides of the ball, which is what his head coach iterated after the game. Taylor said playing offense is helping him with his ball skills, which he’s confident will translate to the next level at Michigan.

What Went Well

Not being pigeon-held to one position on defense positively affects Taylor’s overall I.Q. because of the responsibilities that are required of him at multiple spots. For instance, when Taylor went down to the line of scrimmage to rush the outside, he blitzed, had containment, dropped into the flat, and acted as a spy against a dual-threat quarterback. At the MIKE and WILL, he had to act in run and pass plays on both the field side and the boundary. Stockbridge’s opponent took shots in the deep quarters often, so while that was beyond Taylor’s coverage radius, it was good to see him moving in space, keeping his head on a swivel and hips open while taking proper angles to prevent yardage. There was one play in the second half where the quarterback took off with the ball down the sideline, but Taylor mirrored him and came up at least 10 yards to make the tackle. If he had not been there or hadn’t wrapped up, the quarterback might have scored a touchdown.

Stopping the run was when Taylor provided several glimpses of his physicality. He wants to deliver a hit on every play, will get involved in any way possible, runs sideline-to-sideline, and times the snap right to blow up holes. Contributing to Michigan’s defense means having a physical mindset, so teaching that to Taylor won’t be needed. I can see Taylor getting early playing time as a freshman on special teams.

Areas of Improvement

On3 lists Taylor at 201 pounds, so I was curious to find out what his physique looked like. On Friday, Taylor and his father confirmed the weight hovering around the 215 mark. It’s a solid bump. Still, even with the increase, he has plenty more room to grow. I think adding 15-20 pounds would really benefit him. Going above that could be in the cards as well. He’s planning on enrolling at Michigan early, so those offseason months should focus on progressing in that area. On the technical side, developing Taylor’s control and timing will be essential, as aggressiveness can lead to risks. One play ended in Stockbridge giving up a touchdown because Taylor flew into the backfield and had a clean shot on the quarterback but didn’t line up the tackle right, and the signal-caller spun out of it. Taylor didn’t blitz as much after that, so it would have been good to see what he can do in that role more.

If Taylor becomes a true EDGE rusher in college, that’ll be a focal point in his ascension, with signs pointing to his ceiling being the highest at the position. He might start off at WILL for the Wolverines because of his speed, but I think his athleticism, paired with a weight gain, would be a great addition as a seven-technique. That leads to a high ceiling. He’s raw but has the traits to be churned into a speed rusher who pins his ears back and gets after the quarterback.

Commitment Status

As mentioned, Taylor is preparing to arrive in Ann Arbor in a few months. This summer, he’s been in communication nearly every day with Michigan linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, who has kept a strong relationship with the entire family since his hire earlier in the offseason. Head coach Sherrone Moore texted Taylor a good luck message right before Friday’s game, so they’re close, too. As for the commits, Taylor and the 15 others in the 2025 recruiting class are working hard behind the scenes to bring in more guys. Taylor said he wants teammates who have the “dog mentality.”

The family has been to campus three times so far, including last month for the annual BBQ at The Big House and the official visit on Victors Weekend. They plan to return again this fall for their first-ever game, potentially when Texas, USC, or Oregon comes to town. Taylor’s father explained that the family fell in love with the Wolverines because of the culture, all the resources on and off the field, the staff, and much more.

What Taylor Said

“It’s been great. Learning new things about everybody. Some of the players, been catching up with them. So, it’s been good just chopping it up with them almost every day.”

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