Latest news with #GabeTaylor
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders Invite Sean Taylor's Brother to Rookie Minicamp
The Washington Commanders have had a number of great defensive players in their history, but perhaps none as exciting as the late Sean Taylor. Now, Sean's younger brother will be hoping he can carry on his legacy. Advertisement Washington announced its their rookie minicamp roster on Friday, and one name on their list was Rice DB Gabe Taylor, the younger brother of Sean. The agency that represents Taylor said that the young defensive back received an invite from a few teams, but chose the Commanders to honor his brother, as he had always grown up playing there. "He has the chance to make his mark, forge his own path, compete for a roster spot and honor the memory of Sean," Creed Sports and Entertainment posted on social media. "Gabe couldn't be more excited, focused, and ready for the opportunity." Sean made a name for himself in just 3.5 seasons in Washington with his explosive hits and his ability to tackle from the safety position. Taylor was shot in the upper thigh in November of 2007, and passed away due to the blood loss. Advertisement Gabe - who has called himself a 'diamond in the rough' as a prospect - will be hoping that he honor his brother's memory by forging his own path in the NFL. Sean was one of the most noteworthy and eye-catching players in the NFL despite being on the defensive side of the ball, and Gabe will looking to bring that same fire to impress the Commanders enough to keep him around and sign him to their roster. Related: Commanders Rookie Electric Season Predicted By NFL Analyst Related: Commanders General Manager Grades Offseason Moves
Fox News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Gabe Taylor, brother of the late Sean Taylor, attends Commanders rookie camp
Gabe Taylor, the younger brother of late Washington safety Sean Taylor, is attending Commanders rookie camp on a tryout. The Commanders announced their camp roster on Friday. Taylor, a defensive back who played five seasons at Rice, went undrafted last month. He was impressive at the Owls' pro day last month, running 40-yard dash times between 4.38 and 4.44 seconds. The agency that represents him said Taylor picked Washington after receiving multiple offers because he grew up wanting to play for the team. "I had to take a moment, take a deep breath. I just looked at the helmet," Taylor said, per ESPN. "I've been watching the Washington Commanders all my life. I could have gone somewhere else, but I chose here for a reason. Hopefully I get to put it on again and continue forward with them." Sean Taylor died in November 2007 at age 24 from a gunshot wound after being shot in the upper thigh by an intruder in his Miami home. Taylor was the fifth pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and played three and a half seasons with Washington before being killed. Gabe Taylor was only six years old when Sean passed. "It meant everything," Taylor said, per ESPN. "My dad was likem 'I want you at the Commanders. I want you at the Commanders so bad.' I really wanted to come here too. I took a couple days, that's why I didn't say nothing after the draft. I just wanted to pray on it, and at the end of the day, it was my decision. "I'm very versatile. I'm not someone who is scared to put my hand in when I'm in the box. I can guard the slot. I can play zone,. I just thank God for the opportunity He gave me, and hopefully I show the team that I can come in and contribute in any way."
Washington Post
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Gabe Taylor came to Washington for a higher purpose: To honor his brother
After his job interview, Gabe Taylor knelt down on the grass above the Washington Commanders' practice field. While most every other player who participated in the rookie minicamp practice trudged up the hill and into the locker room, Taylor was the only one to end the session with such an intimate moment. But, of course, only Taylor, an undrafted dreamer out of Rice University, has deep roots here.
New York Times
11-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Commanders rookie camp brings ties to Washington's past and future together
ASHBURN, Va. — The surrealness of his new football life finally kicked in for Trey Amos. 'It really just happened today, just now,' the Washington Commanders' second-round pick said after Day 2 of the team's rookie camp. Amos, part of a five-player draft class, knew his professional start would occur with last season's NFC runner-up. Weather concerns pushed Friday's session indoors, meaning the press cornerbacks' initial work on an outdoor practice field began Saturday. Advertisement Though already schooled to stay in the moment, the Ole Miss standout and former Alabama transfer let the setting sink in. 'Man, I'm really here.' The individual stakes ranged for the draft picks, undrafted free agents signed at least for the summer and tryout players hoping to catch the staff's attention during the three-day outing. The pinch-me sentiment is universal. First-round offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr.'s stated 'dream come true' sentiment is understandable — and would exist no matter which of the 32 teams had selected the third-team All-American from the University of Oregon. The same is true for Amos and fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane, who arrived ready to 'dominate my role' while knowing his receiver/returner abilities and blazing speed will have him used in many ways. Emotions for Gabe Taylor, the younger brother of the late Sean Taylor, were linked to this specific parcel of planet Earth and the team's burgundy and gold gear. 'I had to take a moment, take a deep breath,' said Taylor, engulfed by local reporters and a bushel of cameras. He was 6 years old when Sean, a rising NFL star safety, was shot and killed by intruders at his Miami-area home at the age of 24. Gabe, a four-year contributing safety at Rice, followed in his brother's positional footsteps. Now, the rookie-tryout hopeful would begin his professional football journey where Sean's hard-hitting legacy remains central to Washington's fans — the organization retired his No. 21 jersey in 2021 — and Gabe's DNA. 'I looked at the helmet – it's been the Washington Redskins, the Commanders all my life,' Taylor said. 'I could have went somewhere else, but I chose here for a reason.' Coincidentally, the 39-player rookie camp roster included 21 tryout players. Along with Taylor, veteran NFL quarterback Nathan Peterman, 2020 second-round defensive tackle Ross Blacklock and UCLA running back/returner Keegan Jones were among those executing drill work for the Commanders staff. Advertisement 'Gabe and the other guys are here on a tryout. What a cool and golden opportunity,' coach Dan Quinn said. 'I love seeing players like him and others really going for it. It's been very worthwhile for him and the other guys to say, 'OK, I'm seeing what (the Commanders) are, what they stand for.' … Now, we start creating a list of who's next, how do you utilize the guys? So, all those guys are off to a good start.' Taylor's chances of making an NFL roster are long — 5-foot-8 safeties aren't standard, though this one had 10 career interceptions — but not everyone receives this tryout opportunity, certainly not one with this level of connection. 'Hopefully,' Taylor said, 'I get to put (the helmet and uniform) on again.' UDFA safety Gabe Taylor, brother of the late Sean Taylor, on being with Washington for rookie camp. — Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025 Here are eight additional thoughts and observations from Saturday's open practice. 1. Quinn confirmed an ESPN report that a back issue popped up for teams during Amos' pre-draft evaluations. Considered a potential first-round pick, the first-team All-SEC selection slipped to Washington at No. 61. 'Each team has their own medical report and how it goes,' Quinn said. 'And so, from our club, it was something that we were comfortable with.' Amos started all 13 of the Rebels' games last season and joined his fellow rookie on the field for camp. He said the back 'feels good. I'm out practicing, still competing.' The 6-foot-1 corner with 4.43 speed (and an impressive grill) will contend for a starting outside job opposite Marshon Lattimore. Dan Quinn confirms Trey Amos' back came up during the pre-draft eval, but "it's something we were comfortable with." — Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025 2. Even among other NFL players, offensive tackles stand out for their frame and size. The 6-foot-5, 311-pound Conerly meets that measure, but his impressive physical traits, including a desired 34.5-inch arm length, turned him into a first-round selection. Padless rookie camp practices without complete 11-on-11 work won't allow Washington's possible starting right tackle to test his full skills. Still, the speed at which Conerly threw hands and punches at practice dummies and shuffled his feet in front of line coach Bobby Johnson offered a glimpse of his athletic upside. First round OT Josh Conerly Jr. (72) throwing hands at the practice dummy. Speed shows. — Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025 Quickness also applies to learning the playbook and absorbing Washington's internal vibes. Veterans recently began working out at the facility, and tight end Zach Ertz watched Saturday's practice from the sideline, but most cleared out ahead of the rookies' arrival. Conerly met some of his new teammates during a pre-draft visit and after traveling from his native Seattle to Northern Virginia the day after Washington selected him 28th. Advertisement Brandon Coleman, last season's starting left tackle and possible starting right tackle and guard competition this year, gave Conerly a rundown of expectations for his first work on Washington's practice field. 'For the ones I've been around, it's always been great vibes and very welcoming,' Conerly said. 3. The 2025 NFL schedule will be announced Wednesday, with some marquee games announced earlier. That includes the international slate. Rumors swirled recently that Washington's first since 2016 would occur in Madrid against the host Miami Dolphins. Quinn boned up on his Spanish in anticipation of any related queries. 'Sin comentarios,' the coach said. That translation? 'No comment,' Quinn joked. 'I don't know what to tell you on that one,' he said with a laugh. 'We'll see on Wednesday, I guess, what happens.' 4. Quinn doesn't expect Week 1 or even training camp-level work from the participants. He considers these three days 'onboarding.' 'These are the standards. These are the things that are important to us. These are the ways that we go about (our work),' Quinn said. 'It doesn't just take place over one weekend. It takes place all the way up through here and into training camp. This is an excellent team to come be a part of, knowing that there are people here that are gonna help them be their very best.' 5. Lane's 4.34 40-yard speed made the Virginia Tech receiver a coveted target for teams in the middle rounds. College highlights showed a player often receiving the ball out of the slot and near the line of scrimmage. That tracked with Lane's usage in a few seven-on-seven drills, as did the burst upfield with the ball in his hands. Finding ways to get Lane the ball beyond traditional route running feels like an early goal. That includes returning punts and kicks, which might be how he will contribute primarily as a rookie, along with gunner reps on special teams. Advertisement 6. Sixth-round hybrid linebacker Kain Medrano ran the fastest 40-yard dash among linebackers at the combine. As another immediate special-teams contributor, Medrano's speed and quickness potential showed in Saturday's work. Whether he sees much action on defense will be determined by whether coaches think that speed and coverage element is a must-add for a group that ranked near the bottom of the league in several categories last season. 7. Then there is seventh-round running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who introduced himself as 'Bill' to reporters. He looked bigger than his listed 5 feet 11, 208 pounds. At the same time, the shiftiness showed in drills as expected, without any hints of rust after eligibility issues caused him to miss the final 11 games of his career at Arizona. Shifty seventh-round RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt under the watch of RB coach Anthony Lynn. — Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025 Washington retained its Brian Robinson, Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols rotation while keeping Chris Rodriguez and practice-squad player Michael Wiley. Croskey-Merritt offers a needed change-of-pace aspect to fit the bill for a room lacking a big-play element last season. 8. Two UDFA signings, cornerback Fentrell Cypress and offensive lineman Tim McKay (torn labrum), did not participate. McKay's injury, suffered at NC State's pro day, will likely keep the three-year college starter and guard prospect sidelined into training camp, possibly leading to a physically unable to perform designation.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gabe Taylor hopes to earn a spot with Commanders and make brother proud
Gabe Taylor isn't your typical undrafted player in rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. You see, Taylor is the younger brother of legendary Washington safety Sean Taylor. And after going undrafted last month, Taylor chose to attend the Washington Commanders' rookie minicamp instead of going elsewhere. He had options, he chose Washington. On Friday, Taylor arrived in Ashburn for his first NFL practice. After his second practice on Saturday, Taylor spoke with the media. Advertisement "They upgraded the facility for sure," Taylor said about the Commanders' Ashburn headquarters. "Just coming in through these doors, all the memories, and they got the 21 jersey on the wall in the equipment room and then to just see my brother's name there, it's something I feel like I gotta do to represent him." So, what would Taylor tell his older brother if he were there? "I know you damn proud of me," Gabe Taylor said with a smile. "All the pressure on my back that I don't feel like people would think I feel, I don't really care. I like to see that conversation. I'm the type of person that thrives on critics. You know, I'd rather be criticized than all the positivity because, you know, I gotta get better." That's the perfect attitude. Head coach Dan Quinn said Saturday that not every player can become a great player, but you can become a great teammate." Advertisement You can bet Taylor's attitude and mindset will endear him to Washington's coaching staff. Taylor chose to come to a place that was special to him with no guarantees, knowing he would need to compete to earn an opportunity. "I had to take a moment, take a deep breath. I just looked at the helmet," Taylor said via Hannah Lichtenstein of "I've been watching the Washington Redskins, Commanders all my life. I could have gone somewhere else, but I chose here for a reason. Hopefully, I get to put it on again and continue forward with them." After practice, Quinn was asked specifically about Taylor, but was careful not to single him out. That wasn't meant disrespectfully toward Taylor, but it was Quinn again focusing on the team mindset. Also, Quinn was probably cautioning the media to be careful when applying too much pressure on Taylor. Here's Taylor in action: Taylor wanted to be in Washington. He said his father, Pedro, wanted him in Washington. You can bet the fans want him with the Commanders. Taylor needs a strong weekend to earn a spot on Washington's 90-man roster, but don't count him out. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Can Gabe Taylor earn a roster spot with the Commanders?
