How Bloomington South’s Bryce Taylor aced pressure-filled audition for Indiana football

BLOOMINGTON — Bloomington South kicker Bryce Taylor had a busy summer ahead.

Taylor’s recruitment was heating up after he handled all the Panthers place-kicking and punting duties last season. The five-star kicker was scheduled visits to Miami of Ohio, Toledo, Notre Dame and Ohio State in the coming weeks.

Those plans changed on Wednesday after Taylor announced he was verbally committing to Indiana football.

“Hoosier nation, staying home,” Taylor said, in a social media post.

It was a development Taylor couldn’t have predicted six months ago considering he hadn’t spoken with IU’s previous staff.

“I wouldn’t want to call any other place home,” Taylor said, in a phone interview on Wednesday night.

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti’s staff started talking with Taylor a week after they took over — new special teams coach Grant Cain took point — but he didn’t get an offer until a standout performance at a team camp on June 4.  That was a much more difficult than the “no-brainer” decision to verbally commit.

More: How one foot equals a lot of yards for South football: Meet Bryce Taylor

Bloomington South’s Bryce Taylor (89) makes a 41-yard field goal from the hold of Noah Hernandez (81) during the IHSAA sectional semi-final football game at Bloomington North on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Bloomington South kicker Bryce Taylor makes his Memorial Stadium debut

Taylor was no stranger to the stands at Memorial Stadium. His parents were longtime season ticket holders and he can’t remember a time when he didn’t spend his Saturdays in the fall watching the Hoosiers.

“As a kid, I wouldn’t have thought I would be on that field playing,” Taylor said, with a laugh.

That’s where Taylor found himself on June 4 for an IU team camp that brought together some of the top specialists from the 2025 signing class.

It was a…

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Author : The Herald-Times

Publish date : 2024-06-13 08:01:16

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