Four-Star CB Keeps Michigan in the Mix, Plans to Visit in the Summer

A consensus four-star recruit (247Sports, Scout, Rivals, ESPN), San Diego cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart has north of 30 offers on his plate, some of which are SEC powerhouses like Alabama, Florida and LSU. He, however, isn’t willing to clear his plate just yet.

Taylor-Stuart, a member of the 2018 recruiting class, emphasized in an interview with Maize n Brew on Monday that he’s aiming to take all the time he needs to visit schools and talk with coaches before deciding his landing spot at the college level. Of all the schools sitting on his long list, Michigan still stands tall despite the surplus of national interest he has received.

Considered the second-best cornerback recruit coming out of California in 2018 (Scout), Taylor-Stuart is still in contact with the Wolverine coaches Jay Harbaugh (running backs) and Brian Smith (defensive backs). He is eager to finally meet the coaches in person after only speaking over the phone for weeks - which will happen when he takes a visit to Ann Arbor this summer.

In addition to Michigan, Taylor-Stuart plans to visit a number of schools who have dropped offers on his desk to best prepare to make his decision in December 2017.

If he were to commit to the Wolverines, Taylor-Stuart would join an already star-studded 2018 class boasting four four-star recruits plus Georgia running back Christian Turner, a three-star recruit. Turner is one of three Georgia natives to commit to Michigan for the 2018 season, the other two being outside linebacker Otis Reese and cornerback Myles Sims.

At 6-feet, 2-inches, 173 pounds, Sims adds desirable size to the Wolverines’ secondary, an attribute Harbaugh & Co. hope to double-up on with Taylor-Stuart.

Though he is highly regarded for his speed, cover skills and technique, Taylor-Stuart sees his 6-foot, 2-inch, 185-pound frame as a clear-cut advantage in comparison to small corners, especially when playing the run.

“Tackling is one of the biggest parts of my game,” Taylor-Stuart said. “I like coming downhill and hitting the ball carrier. I really love tackling.”

With such a long frame, Taylor-Stuart understands teams may want him to move inside to a safety role, and though he wouldn’t be opposed to the switch, he intends to be the No. 1 guy along the boundary at the Division-I level.

Also setting himself apart from other cornerbacks in the 2018 class, Taylor-Stuart spoke to his aggressive, physical approach to the game.

“I come out with a savage mentality,” Taylor-Stuart said. “I try to think that nobody is better than me on that field.”

Taylor-Stuart’s savage mentality would, of course, look best in Michigan Blue, but with his decision still pending, the Wolverines will just continue to encourage him that he belongs in The Big House.