Alontae Taylor describes the moment he got the NFL Draft call from the New Orleans Saints
Alontae Taylor has realized his NFL dream. The Saints helped it come true, as New Orleans took the former Tennessee star off the board on Friday, during the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
It’s a moment Taylor will cherish forever. After realizing the dream of a lifetime, the former Volunteers defensive back spoke about the moment he got the call from New Orleans.
“I was super surprised,” explained Taylor. “I had texted my agent when some of the corners were coming off the board. I sent him the eye emoji. He was just like, sit back, be patient. We’re (round) three to four, more likely. So, when my phone started buzzing, I jumped up. I quieted everybody down. I got on the phone, and it was amazing, man. Just knowing that my dreams were coming true.
“Whenever they announced my name, my grandma’s not here, she passed away. So, I had a picture sitting in-front of me, and I gave her a kiss. First person I made sure I gave a kiss to, before hugging my mom.”
As you can see, the moment meant the world to Alontae Taylor and his family. The Saints wanted the former Tennessee star bad, and they used a premium selection to secure him. Now, Taylor will be looking to prove New Orleans right for believing in him.
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The New Orleans Saints are banking on Tennessee product Alontae Taylor to come in and give their secondary a boost. After playing a pivotal role throughout his time in Knoxville, the former Volunteers defensive back will be expected to do the same in his NFL career.
That’s why the Saints took him off the board in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Friday night, picking him No. 49 overall.
In his four seasons with the Volunteers, Taylor proved why NFL teams were intrigued by his ability. Last season, the star cornerback helped lay a foundation for first-year Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, as the Volunteers look primed for good days ahead under their second-year coach. In 2021, Taylor accumulated 60 total tackles, six pass deflections and two interceptions in a loaded SEC.
Most importantly to New Orleans, Taylor possess immense athletic gifts that allow him to be one of the more intriguing defensive back prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. At the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, the former Tennessee star ran a blazing 4.41 in the 40 Yard Dash, which was one of the top scores among the defensive backs group.
A former four-star recruit in the class of 2018, Taylor was the No. 20 cornerback in the nation per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. The former Tennessee star played his high school football at Coffee County Central in Manchester, Tennessee. Additionally, Taylor was the fourth-ranked recruit in Tennessee coming out of high school, and the No. 136 overall recruit in the nation, according to On3’s 2018 Consensus Top Football Recruits.