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Erik Campos/ecampos@thestate.com/
Devin Taylor brings down a scrambling North Carolina State QB Russell Wilson.
GoGamecocks.com
Easy call: Taylor's debut a big hit
South Carolina freshman defensive end Devin Taylor blocks a first-quarter punt by N.C. State's Jeff Ruiz.
Gerry Melendez@gmelendez@thestate.com
Written by SETH EMERSON
semerson@thestate.com
Posted on 09.04.09
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RALEIGH — A half-hour after what might have been the game of his life, Devin Taylor had yet to check his phone for congratulatory texts.
Taylor figured there would be a bunch. There was one call the redshirt freshman defensive end knew he would make eventually Thursday night: to his mother, who couldn't find a ride to Raleigh from Beaufort.
"I know she'll probably call me later on and just tell me a good job and everything," Taylor said.
Good job would be quite an understatement considering Taylor’s performance in his USC debut.
In his first play as a college player, he forced a fumble that led to the Gamecocks’ only score.
Later in the first quarter, he blocked a punt. In the second half, he had a sack. He finished third on the team with six tackles, including three for a loss.
In the locker room after the game, he received a game ball.
It was all 'amazing," said Ellis Johnson, USC assistant head coach for defense.
"We really knew that about Devin Taylor two or three weeks ago," Johnson said. "We felt like he was ready to step up and start."
That happened when junior Clifton Geathers was suspended following his Aug. 23 arrest. Geathers is expected to return for next week's game at Georgia, but Taylor's performance leaves the starting job open for question.
He got off to a strong start. The 6-foot-7, 232-pound Taylor broke through a gap on N.C. State's first play. Tailback Toney Baker fumbled, and USC's Darian Stewart recovered.
"(There) wasn't anything great about it; he did what he's supposed to do," Johnson said. "He hit the thing so dang quick."
The blocked punt didn't result in points, but special teams coach Shane Beamer said it "was a big momentum-changer and really got our guys going."
As the game progressed, Taylor didn't seem to let up.
Defensive tackle Travian Robertson said he expected Taylor to play well.
"But I didn't know he was going to do that," Robertson said.
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
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