Rutgers Football Recruiting: The Scarlet Knights add PWO & Long Snapping Extraordinaire Billy Taylor

The Rutgers Scarlet Knight Football program has received a commitment from the very underrated Billy Taylor of Parsippany Hills High School in North Jersey, who will join the program as a preferred walk-on.

The 6’ 1” 220 lb. two way lineman is a long snapping specialist that adds to the class of 2017. Taylor did not show up on any national ranking system anywhere but just ask any football coach what it is like when their team is lacking in any special team specialist position such as a long snapper. This is why fans should not get all wrapped up in the National Website's Recruiting Rankings.

Former Rutgers kicker Lee McDonald told NJ Advance Media’s Todderick Hunt that he has ranked Taylor as the number one long snapper in the Northeast. From Hunt’s article here, McDonald said this about Taylor:

"Billy is the top ranked snapper in the northeast and was named the 2016 Northeast Snapper of the Year by Special Teams Solutions," said McDonald. "Taylor brings consistent low .7-second snap speed from 15 yards which puts him among the best in the country. Throwing fire is an understatement. He has an athletic frame with a quick release and excellent accuracy. A steal for the Scarlet Knights as a preferred walk-on."

He was named the 2016 Long Snapper of the Year by Special Teams Solutions. Who would have thought that such a very important job on a football field would only now be getting their due recognition such as Long Snapper of the Year honors.

These type of recruiting coup’s are what sets college football programs apart. I for one believe the quickest way to add wins to a Power 5 Football Program is with superior special teams play. The college football blue bloods like to stockpile 5 star recruits and then hope to convince kickers, punters, snappers, holders and return specialists to walk on or magically appear in their locker room. Coach Ash and the Knight’s coaching staff are getting a quality football player from the Garden State in Billy Taylor.

Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Fans of “On the Banks” should not sell Taylor short as just a walk on or just a long snapper. He was the Captain and Team MVP of the Parsippany Hills Vikings who advanced to the North II Group 3 Championship Game in the Meadowlands this past season. The very versatile Taylor earned 1st Team All Conference and 1st Team All County Honors as an Offensive Lineman and 3rd Team All State Group 3 Honors as a Defensive Lineman. He also has been selected as a Football Scholar Athlete and will be receiving the award from The Greater Morris County Chapter of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Welcome Billy Taylor to the Banks of the Ole Raritan.