Electric wide receiver Taylor makes spectacular plays look routine for 6A runner-up Geneva

It has been a whirlwind type of year for Geneva’s Talyn Taylor.

This past spring, Taylor, one of the state’s most prized high school football recruits, made a college visit to the University of Georgia, and verbally committed a couple weeks later.

This fall, Taylor made the most of his senior season.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver rewrote a few chapters in the Vikings’ record book this fall, finishing with 84 receptions for 1,617 yards and 24 touchdowns — and adding a pair of kickoff return scores to total 26 touchdowns overall.

For his efforts, Taylor has been selected as the Daily Herald’s 2024 Fox All-Area football captain.

The past week has been a wild ride for Taylor, as well.

Last weekend, Taylor helped lead the Vikings to the Class 6A state championship game in Normal — Geneva’s third title game appearance in school history (1975, 2008).

While the Vikings dropped a 48-28 decision to East St. Louis, Taylor departed Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium with his head held high after making 8 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in his high school finale.

“It was a great season — my best season individually and as a team,” said Taylor. “It was great to play with my brothers and be around our coaches.

“We made it to the state championship game.”

This past Wednesday, Taylor officially signed a letter of intent to attend Georgia on National Signing Day — part of the 3-day early signing period for high school recruits.

Ironically, after squaring off with rival Batavia’s Bulldogs the past several seasons, Taylor will now become a member of the NCAA perennial powerhouse Bulldogs, trading his traditional royal blue and white Geneva colors for red, black, and white.

“What a fantastic career he has had,” Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen said of Taylor’s 3-year varsity stretch. “To see his success come from all the hard work he put in is extremely rewarding as a coach.

“We always knew Talyn was pretty special, but having that potential early on and now having him nationally recognized and signing with Georgia, it’s surreal to see it happen.”

Taylor, ranked by ESPN as the No. 5 wide receiver in the nation and 31st player overall, received numerous D1 offers, including most of the Big Ten schools (Michigan, Ohio State, Illinois) and Notre Dame before choosing Georgia.

“The recruiting process went pretty smooth for the most part,” said Taylor. “I visited all of them and did my due diligence. Georgia just felt right.”

In his final home game late last month at Burgess Field, Taylor made it a memorable one, finishing with a season-high 11 receptions for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Vikings’ 28-26 semifinal triumph over defending 6A state champion Cary-Grove.

“It was great,” he said. “Making it to the semifinals by itself was a big accomplishment, and having it a home game at the same time — we all knew we had to win that game. We don’t like losing at Burgess (Field).”

Earlier in the playoffs, the multi-talented wideout had 6 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown, while returning a kickoff 96 yards for a score with his trailing 28-21, during Geneva’s 42-28 second-round victory over Burlington Central.

“I enjoyed returning kicks and punts — whatever I could do to help the team,” said Taylor, who put on a show in Week 8, scoring a personal-best 4 touchdowns, one on a 90-yard kickoff return, and added 4 catches for 122 yards during Geneva’s 49-14 win over St. Charles East.

“On those kick returns, you see how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands,” said Thorgesen. “He stands out — it’s a different athlete out there.

“You almost get numb to it. He makes all the different types of catches, and he makes them look effortless. There were plenty of times where I’d look at our other coaches and say, ‘that was one of the best catches I’ve ever seen,’ and then he’d make another one.”

Taylor played an instrumental role alongside senior quarterback Anthony Chahino, fellow receiver Finnegan Weppner, and tailback Michael Rumoro, as Geneva captured a share of the DuKane Conference crown — its first conference title since 2010.

His rapport with first-year varsity QB Chahino was off the charts.

“He has been my best friend since sixth grade,” said Taylor. “I’ve played with him for a long time. It was great playing with him. He’s a great leader and a great teammate.”

After scoring 5 touchdowns combined in wins over Lake Park and Glenbard North, including setting a school record for TD catches against the Panthers, Taylor caught a touchdown pass during the Vikings’ 30-7 Week 6 win at Batavia — ending a 13-game losing streak against the rival Bulldogs.

Taylor, who missed half of his junior season due to a torn meniscus, finished his prep career with 2,600 receiving yards.

“He took that senior jump,” said Thorgesen. “Talyn has the best ball skills I’ve ever seen. He can run any route in the tree.

“It was a blast to watch him play.”

As a kid, Taylor played soccer, basketball, and baseball until focusing directly on football his freshman year.

“That’s when I started thinking I could go somewhere for football,” he said.

Taylor credits his mom, Venus, for her guidance through the years.

“My mom has been my greatest fan throughout my entire career,” he said. “She’s my rock. She pushes me but always gets me right. She helps me when I need help — she’s always there when I need it.”

Venus experienced her own athletic success during her softball playing days at Western Illinois, where she is a member of the Leathernecks’ Athletics Hall of Fame. She currently is a senior administrator and the women’s head softball coach at North Central College.

Following early graduation from Geneva, Taylor will depart for Athens, Ga., where he will begin college classes in early January.

“I want to try and play as a true freshman,” said Taylor, who also owns NFL aspirations. “I’ll begin right away in Georgia’s lifting program and work on getting bigger and more physical.”

Thorgesen likes Taylor’s chances to succeed.

“If anybody can do it, he can,” said the coach. “And I would put money on him playing someday in the NFL.

“His best football is still ahead of him.”