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Brevard College lands South Effingham's Taylor
Zach Taylor
Wide receiver Zach Taylor raises his hands in triumph Friday after signing a national letter of intent to attend NCAA Division III Brevard College in Brevard, N.C. - photo by Mark Lastinger/staff
Zach Taylor
South Effingham’s Zach Taylor (1) hauls in a scoring pass during a Sept. 13, 2019, game against Effingham County. - photo by Mark Lastinger/staff

RINCON — The Tornados swept up another talented South Effingham football player Friday afternoon.

Mustangs wide receiver Zach Taylor signed a national letter of intent to attend Brevard College, keeping him linked with Taylor Jackson. Taylor and Jackson, who inked with the Tornados earlier this year, were one of Region 2-AAAAA’s most lethal passing combinations in 2019, helping the Mustangs average 35.5 points per game. That’s an increase from 12.7 points per outing the previous year.

“It’s great when a quarterback and receiver are in tune, and now they get to go to college together,” Mustangs head coach Nathan Clark said after Taylor’s signing ceremony at McCall Park

As a senior, Taylor racked up 42 catches for 678 yards and seven touchdowns. All three totals rank second for a single season in South Effingham history.

Taylor received honorable mention in the balloting for the 2019 All-Region 2-AAAAA team. He also made the Savannah Morning News’ All-Greater Savannah second team.

In his career, Taylor netted 57 receptions for 842 yards.

“I’m really proud of Zach and happy for his family,” Clark said. “He’s a good people person. He’s a smart football player and he’s a well-spoken young man.”

Taylor hopes he and Jackson will build on their success at Brevard College.

“I get to have my high school quarterback go with me to college so we will at least have that chemistry together,” Taylor said. “That’s an awesome thing. It’s kind of like having two quarterbacks on the field at the same time.

“We both saw things at the same time and were able to work against defenses that way.”

Clark said Taylor is a knowledgeable player.

“As a receiver, he understood when we made adjustments in the game,” Clark said. “Taylor knew what was going on and Zach knew what was going on but maybe the receiver on the inside and outside didn’t know what to do — and Zach would tell them.

“With leadership like that, we knew we could get things done.”

Taylor developed his football knowledge while training as a backup quarterback.

“I wouldn’t tell this to just anybody but (Clark) said I am the smartest receiver,” Taylor joked. “I think that’s a bit of a stretch but I would help out my fellow receivers if they didn’t know their route.”

Taylor prefers playing wide receiver but appreciates the time he spent as a signal caller.

“Being in the quarterback room really helped me understand the offense better,” he said. “It enabled me to see things as a quarterback would. As a receiver, you only see the secondary and block sometimes.

“As a quarterback, you have to understand the whole offense.”

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Taylor is uncertain when he will get to report to Brevard College for practice. He expects to stay in contact with the team online until camp starts at the North Carolina school.