A quick scan through Trae Taylor’s Instagram shows a who’s who of college football. Carmel’s sophomore quarterback met 17 head coaches this summer, traveling to camps nationwide.
His dad, J.R., a successful running back at Eastern Illinois, did most of the driving. One of the most memorable encounters was a meeting with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz until 11 p.m. — with the Taylors due in Mississippi the next day.
“It was definitely a lot,” Taylor said. “But I really cleaned up the picture for myself, and I have a much better idea of where I’d like to be in college.”
Taylor, the top prospect in Illinois in the Class of 2027 and one of the top overall quarterback prospects in the country, is the most heavily recruited quarterback from this area since Nazareth’s J.J. McCarthy, whom the NFL’s Vikings drafted 10th overall out of Michigan in April.
Monday was the first day of high school football practice across the state and Taylor’s first practice as the Corsairs’ starter. Last year he served as the backup, playing significant minutes in a handful of games.
“Obviously, I wanted to play last year, but looking back now, sitting was the best thing for me,” Taylor said. “I had a chance to kind of see how the Catholic League moved. And I was able to get close with a lot of players. It was good to get some experience and help me get ready for this year.”
Taylor was 145 pounds last season. He’s now up to 175 and has cracked 6-3.
“[Taylor] is unbelievable on the field but even smarter off the field,” Carmel lineman Tommy Lamberti said. “I’ve never seen anything like it with the amount of effort he puts in to learn the game off the field. Countless hours. We are blessed to have him. He’s a great player and a great team player.”
Taylor has 23 scholarship offers — the first coming when he was in seventh grade — and three NIL deals, including with a pickle-juice company and a trading-card company. He also has a website selling $35 T-shirts and $44 hoodies. The hype has begun. The first varsity start comes Aug. 30 at Grayslake Central.
“He works hard, and he’s a true leader,” Corsairs coach Jason McKie said. “He wants to be great, and he’ll be as good as he wants to be because he puts in the work.”
McKie, a former Bears fullback, is turning Carmel into a powerhouse. The Corsairs won just one of five games in his first season, the COVID-19 spring season. Since then, they have won three games in his second season, seven in his third and 10 last year.
Several key players are back from a team that gave eventual Class 5A state champion Nazareth its biggest playoff test.
“It’s been amazing to see the job [McKie] has done,” Lamberti said. “I’ve experienced the switch since I’ve been here. It gives you a real sense of pride to be a part of buying into this program and seeing the results.”
Running back Donovan Dey, tight end Jack Greiber, linebacker Dominic Delorme and wide receiver Kai Owens are all expected to be major contributors. The Corsairs have regular-season tests against Providence, St. Laurence, Montini, Loyola and Fenwick.
“I’m not worried about getting my name out there with the other great quarterbacks in the state,” Taylor said. “This is a team sport, and my goal is a state championship. We are all out here working our butts off for that goal, and I’m just one part of it.”