Sherando High School 17-year-old senior

Sport: Football. Positions: Defensive tackle and offensive guard, tackle

Parent: Marcie Taylor

Hometown: Stephens City

What do you love about football?: Mainly the atmosphere. I really love the energy and what it brings. I just have the passion to go do something, go hit something. It’s just that adrenaline for me. 

Most memorable moment in football: The Salem game, when we blocked the field goal at the end to win. (Sherando rallied from a 20-0 deficit to defeat Salem 29-26 in the Region 4D title game, with James Walters getting a finger on a 33-yard field goal attempt that bounced off the right upright on the final play of the game.) It was just awesome, because if they would have made that field goal, it would have brought us into overtime. Who knows what would have happened if they had made that field goal. It was just so relieving, that feeling that we won. 

Most embarrassing moment in football: The playoff game against James Wood, I got pancaked a couple of times. I could have done better and gotten more tackles that game. (Sherando won 48-7.)

Most difficult moment in football: Kettle Run was a tough game for us. (The Cougars beat the Warriors 44-20 to give them their only regular-season loss last year.) We could have done better, but you lose some games, and you win some.  That game opened our eyes more, showed stuff we needed to work on more. 

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: My dad Scott; he died a couple years ago. [Former Los Angeles Lakers guard] Kobe [Bryant]; he’s just a great role model. And [former Rams defensive lineman] Aaron Donald. I’d love to have a talk with him, see what I could do to be a better football player. He’s one of the best. 

Biggest athletic influence: [New York Giants defensive tackle] Dexter Lawrence. He’s very big, and very athletic for his size. 

Favorite teacher: Ms. [Melissa] Cotton. She was there for my freshman year, and she’s still supporting me. She’s helped me through a lot. I had her for English. 

Favorite athlete: Aaron Donald

Favorite movie: “After Earth” 

Favorite TV show: “Arrow” 

Favorite song: “Dear Life” by Anthony Hamilton

Favorite food: Steak. I usually cook it my own way. 

Worst thing you’ve eaten: Brussels sprouts

Plans after high school: I’m going to college for football. I got a scholarship offer from Ferrum, and I might take that up. I don’t know what I’m going to study, maybe business or education. 

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki