Three-star offensive tackle Taylor Dever (6-6, 300, 5.3), from Grass Valley Nevada Union (Calif.), denies a leader but says he favors Miami, Nebraska, Notre Dame, USC, UCLA, Washington, Fresno State, Utah State and UNLV. All have offered except USC and UCLA.
“Every week there’s a new twist or new interest that makes the decision process harder than the previous week,” Dever said. “We only get five official visits, but I’d take fourteen if I could. I plan on taking all five official visits.
“Currently, I have only been to Washington (November 10). I met with Coach Tyrone Willingham who I think is a personable guy and great coach. He stresses that a player has to be great in the classroom as well as out on the field. To be the best, you have to have it all. I loved the players there and I am still very much considering the Huskies.
“USC and UCLA have just lately started to show interest,” he said. “I know that the bigger schools are interested in a lot of other players besides me. Whatever the reason for their interest coming so late, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m considering the Trojans and the Bruins, the same as any other school.
"Being that USC and UCLA haven’t offered, should a school request an official visit that has offered I would have to visit the school with the offer. I would consider taking an unofficial visit to USC and UCLA since they are close to home.
“Notre Dame came to my school last Tuesday (November 30) and extended an offer to me (both verbal and in writing) in front of my family," Dever said. "It was incredible. I’ve been a fan of the Irish for a long time. It was an exciting moment to have coaches Charlie Weis, John Latina (offensive line) and Brian Polian (special teams/defensive backs) to come to my door with an offer. I was supposed to visit Notre Dame last weekend but we had a pretty bad snowstorm. I’ll be visiting this weekend (December 8).
“Coach Dennis Wagner (offensive line) from Nebraska says that I am pretty high on his list," he said. "We should be setting a date to visit the Cornhuskers soon. I'd say within the next couple of weeks. Coach Wagner wants to push the process along, not to rush me, but because he says that I'm valuable to their team.
"Miami has been interested in me since my junior year. Coach Mario Cristobal (offensive line) has seen me on film many times and says that I would be a great fit for their program. He came to my house on Sunday (December 3). He's respectable and down-to-earth. An official visit to Miami is also in the works.
"The first offer I received was from Fresno State," Dever said. "I haven't heard from them in a while. I think it's because they now see the big boys offering me scholarships. They might feel that I am no longer considering them. That couldn't be further from the truth. I am still considering the Bulldogs, as I am UNLV and Utah State. The school has to appeal to my heart and mind as well as be a great fit. Just because the school is bigger doesn't mean its going to be the right one for me.
"I played with Andrew Jackson (tackle) who now plays for Fresno State. I think he had a lot to do with Fresno State being my first offer," he said "There's no way I wouldn't consider the Bulldogs. I think Jackson speaking up for me says a lot about him as well as the coaches at Fresno State. They took Jackson's comments and extended me an offer. That's a honor.
"Utah State is coming out to my school today. Coaches Brent Guy and Vance Vice (offensive line) want to see how I am doing and are going to check out Chad Mason (quarterback). Now there's a player who isn't getting enough attention.
"Coach Kris Cinkovich (wide receivers) from UNLV has been talking to me since my junior year. I haven't heard from them in a while," Dever said. "They extended an offer, but just like Fresno State, I'm sure they feel that I'm not considering them because of the interest I received from the bigger schools. I wouldn't do that. I'm not going to do that.
"It's all going to come down to how I feel about the coaching staff, do I agree with the coaching style of the head coach and how well I get along with the players. Those are the guys you hang with all the time. If I can't get along with the players then I can't be a successful player. All these schools have said that I could come in and play early. I would of course have to work hard and prove myself.
"I'm planning to move forward with all five visits and when the time comes it will come, he said. "My parents just want me to make the best decision for me. They will back me up where ever I choose to go."
Dever reports a 3.0 core GPA and 1510 SAT (new version).