Taylor at the Manning Camp

[huskerhaze]

Husker QB Taylor helps out at Mannings' camp

 

BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star

For the past two summers, Zac Taylor has helped instruct the Manning Passing Academy because he’s a talented, experienced and active quarterback. The camp, for high school quarterbacks, is run by brothers Peyton and Eli Manning, two NFL star quarterbacks.

 

“Mainly,” Taylor said, “they want guys (to help) who are still playing.”

 

Which brings us to next summer. Is Taylor planning on assisting again?

 

“Hopefully,” he said, “I’m still playing.”

 

 

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning (right) drops back last week at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La. (AP)

 

That, of course, would mean Taylor’s quarterback career has taken a route beyond Nebraska. The NFL, perhaps.

 

The words “NFL quarterback” and “Nebraska” haven’t gone hand-in-hand since the days of Vince Ferragamo.

 

Taylor, though, enters his senior season with the Huskers with lofty expectations, both from himself, and from fans still beaming after last year’s three-game winning streak to end an 8-4 season. That’s when things appeared to really begin clicking for Taylor, who was finishing his first season directing NU’s growing West Coast offense.

 

Even at the Manning Academy this past weekend at Nicholls State in Thibodaux, La., other college coaches and quarterbacks quizzed Taylor about the buzz in Lincoln.

 

“I rode back to the airport with Dave Shula (brother of Alabama coach Mike Shula). He just asked me all sorts of questions about how things are going up here,” Taylor said.

 

“They just want to know how the fans are taking the change from the option to the West Coast, what kind of players we’re getting. They’re just kind of interested to hear what you have to say.”

 

And Taylor’s response to those questions?

 

“I just told them it’s an exciting time up here, and we’re really excited for next year,” he said. “At the end of the season, people were really jumping on board. They really know what we’re capable of.”

 

Taylor first assisted at the Manning Academy last summer, thanks to a good word from NU offensive coordinator Jay Norvell, who knew Peyton Manning from his time as an assistant coach with the Indianapolis Colts.

 

This year, Taylor was among more than 70 college quarterbacks and coaches who helped 800-plus high school quarterbacks. He assisted drills with high school freshmen.

 

But Taylor also got to be a student, when Peyton and Eli joined the fun and tossed the ball around.

 

“Everyone was just kind of in awe, just watching them get back in the pocket,” Taylor said. “We’d take a five-step drop and do play-action and stuff ... just watching how fast they got back there, it was twice as fast as what the college guys did.

 

“They don’t necessary have the biggest arms — well, they’ve got bigger arms than we’ve got, but it’s nothing that just blows you away. It’s more just the little things they do, and the repetitions they take to get as accurate as they are.”

 

Peyton also met with the college quarterbacks, somewhat of a who’s who’s list that included JaMarcus Russell of LSU, Chris Leak of Florida, Will Proctor of Clemson, Drew Stanton of Michigan State, Brady Leaf of Oregon, Justin Zwick of Ohio State and Bobby Reid of Oklahoma State, among others.

 

“He said there’s no secret formula he’s followed,” Taylor said of Peyton’s speech to the group. “He gets receivers together, he throws routes, just like anybody else does. He just concentrates on his drops when he’s messing around in the summertime. Just hard work, just like anybody else.”

 

As for Taylor, who threw for a school-record 2,653 yards last season, he’s leading 7-on-7 drills with his NU teammates until fall camp begins Aug. 3. He reports “good participation,” saying the receivers are stepping up “and taking the offense to a whole new level.”

 

Taylor hopes to do the same this fall, and, after seeing the Mannings up close, for a few seasons to come, too.

 

“You know where you’re at now, and you know where these guys are at eight years, two years into the (NFL),” he said. “You can kind of get a feel if you want to play at that level, kind of how far you need to progress.”

 

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.

[ttheKid1*18]

I think it's great that he's getting help from guys like the Mannings, and now that he has been doing it for the past couple of years, it will help him for the season. He is going to be a very exciting player to watch.

[gamecocks]

Taylor getting little subtle hints from Peyton and Eli can only help him in becoming the best quarterback that he can be.

[cubhusker23]

That's sweet, maybe this will give him more credibility as a big-time college QB, as most of us Nebraska fans already know.

[Greased]

We really don't know what Zach can do. We really need to get the O-Line going, if Zach gets protection it will be a very fun year to watch.

 

I really feel Zach can play in the NFL, I really like this guy, he is a true leader and has allot of composure....

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Maybe he can put in word in and get Beck there so he can get some advice as well!!!