Friday, August 15, 2008
By John Werner
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Defensive tackle Phil Taylor said Thursday that he’s planning to transfer to Baylor after he was dismissed from the Penn State football team two weeks ago.
Penn State coach Joe Paterno suspended Taylor from the team in February. Taylor was involved in an on-campus fight last October, and was reportedly sentenced to one year probation for his role in the fight.
New: The Bears continue their preparations for the season opener Aug. 28 under new ball coach Art Briles.
Defensive tackle Chris Baker, who was involved in two separate fights, was also dismissed from the Penn State squad two weeks ago.
Taylor watched the Bears practice from the sidelines Thursday, and plans to enroll for Baylor’s fall semester. Under NCAA transfer rules, he’ll have to redshirt this fall at Baylor and will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning next season.
“This is a new beginning for me,” Taylor said. “I know a little bit about Baylor, but not a lot. You’ll see in the fall of 2009 what I’m going to do.”
Taylor said Brian Norwood recruited him to Penn State out of Gwynn Park High School in Clinton, Md., where he was a four-star recruit. Norwood was Penn State’s safeties coach before becoming Baylor’s defensive coordinator this season under first-year coach Art Briles.
“I had a real nice relationship with Coach Norwood, so it was a good deal on coming down here,” Taylor said.
The 6-4, 340-pound lineman played two seasons for the Nittany Lions, collecting 20 tackles, three sacks and two fumble recoveries last fall as a starter.
Briles had no comment Thursday since Taylor hasn’t enrolled at Baylor.
jwerner@wacotrib.com
757-5716
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