Rank smelling sweet after title win

211 yards and three touchdowns later, Taylor Rank had made his point. Earlier in the year, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound running back from Vancouver (Wash.) Evergreen was asked which side of the ball he felt he could make a bigger impact knows. If Washington prep football fans didn't know before the class 4A championship game, they do now.

"I think as a running back I have more of an impact on the game," Rank told Scout.com back in the spring. "I like having the ball in my hands." Well, he got it 28 times against Skyline as the Plainsmen held off the Spartans 28-14 to win the title. It was redemption for Evergreen, who was one game away last year from making it to the championship game.

"That was our plan all year to win the state title," Rank said. "It was hard, we were all exhausted. Everybody on our team was."

Now that his senior season was finished in style, it's time for Rank to hit the recruiting circuit. He has three visits planned - Montana State (12/17), Montana (1/14) and a new player - South Carolina (1/21). Montana State and Portland State are the two schools to have offered Rank a scholarship.

So why the Gamecocks? "Steve Spurrier is a real attractive coach at a school like that," said Rank. "He coached my father when my Dad played at Georgia Tech."

Washington had offered Rank before former head coach Keith Gilbertson stepped down. Now Rank's situation with the Huskies is up in the air. "I'm hoping I get a chance to do that pretty soon," Rank said when asked if he had been in touch with new UW head coach Tyrone Willingham.

And anybody that saw the championship game, it will come as no surprise that all the schools are recruiting Taylor as a tailback. "I think I'll get a better idea after I visited them all," he said when asked to pick a favorite. He also added that geography will not play a factor in his decision.

Taylor Rank Scout Profile