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Greenbrier teammates Derek Taylor, Nathan Robinson hope familiarity helps with Tennessee football





Greenbrier teammates Derek Taylor (left) and Nathan Robinson (right) will team up again at Tennessee after Robinson's senior football season.JOEL CLINGER/KEN HERNDON

Greenbrier teammates Derek Taylor (left) and Nathan Robinson (right) will team up again at Tennessee after Robinson’s senior football season.JOEL CLINGER/KEN HERNDON

Derek Taylor knows his next six months will be taxing.

The Greenbrier senior athlete will head to Knoxville at the end of May and begin his journey as a preferred-walk on for Tennessee football, where nothing is guaranteed for the three-star prospect.

“High school football is more about fun and stuff, but once you’re in training for college it’s like a job,” Taylor said. “It’s no longer for fun; you know this is what you’re going to have to do.

“Everything’s sped up.”

At the end of the day, Tennessee was where Taylor wanted to be most. He spurned scholarship offers from schools as big as Michigan State to attend and play for his dream school.

His first-year roommates, returning Volunteer players Jimmy Calloway and Christian Charles, will help him acclimate leading up to his freshman season.

Having a former teammate bunk with him in 2023 might make things simpler as well.

If everything goes to plan, rising Greenbrier senior and three-star lineman Nathan Robinson will team up with Taylor again, this time for an up-and-coming Southeastern Conference defense.

Nathan Robinson with the tackle on a Marshall County ballcarrier.FILE/KEN HERNDON

Nathan Robinson with the tackle on a Marshall County ballcarrier.FILE/KEN HERNDON

“As a corner he’s definitely helping me,” said Robinson, who committed to Tennessee over Kentucky and Ole Miss in April. “Him being a force player and me being a player that flows to the football, they definitely complement each other.”

The Bobcat duo recognize how rare their talent is within Robertson County. Alongside East Robertson four-star senior Taylor Groves, the two are the county’s first nationally rated prospects since Springfield and Tennessee State wide receiver Dayron Johnson (2019).

They showed glimpses of greatness together throughout last fall, but Greenbrier’s season finale against Marshall County sticks out.

Head coach John Elmore stacked the box by swapping Taylor to linebacker and moving Robinson to defensive end, and both players remember introducing themselves to the Tigers on multiple occasions that night. Designed jet sweeps went nowhere as the duo combined for a slew of shared tackles to close out the season.

Greenbrier tackler Derek Taylor (left) brings down a Pearl Cohn player.FILE/PHIL STAUDER

Greenbrier tackler Derek Taylor (left) brings down a Pearl Cohn player.FILE/PHIL STAUDER

The Bobcats finished with a 3-7 record in Region 5-4A, but their defense – led by the two Tennessee commitments – pitched three shutouts and allowed just over 16 points a game. Robinson was named The Connection’s Defensive Player of the Year with 88 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 16 sacks, while Taylor was an all-county first-team wideout with 457 yards and two touchdowns.

“You could be the greatest athlete in the world but if you don’t work at it, you’re not going to be successful. These guys have worked at it,” Elmore said. “They put the time in, and hopefully that’ll translate to success at the next level.”

They both project to contribute to the defensive side of the ball at Tennessee, which ranked second in the SEC in tackles (977) and sixth in interceptions (13) this fall. The Volunteers (7-6) finished third in the SEC East standings under first-year head coach Josh Heupel.

Derek Taylor drags Marshall County defenders down the field.FILE/KEN HERNDON

Derek Taylor drags Marshall County defenders down the field.FILE/KEN HERNDON

Regardless of the role he plays in his inaugural season, Taylor is excited to show his friend and former teammate the ropes when Robinson enrolls in January.

The duo hopes their high school chemistry can bring about individual and team success to Rocky Top.

“It’ll be a little tougher for him, but I’ll get to come in easier,” Robinson said. “We’re comfortable with each other, so if I have to complain about something … I’ll go to him. That definitely makes it easier.

“It’s the biggest stage. It’s the top of college football, and it’s pretty crazy that even one of us gets to go experience that. Now the two of us do, and it’s pretty incredible.”

Nathan Robinson jumps to deflect a pass.FILE/KEN HERNDON

Nathan Robinson jumps to deflect a pass.FILE/KEN HERNDON

 

 

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