University of Richmond Athletics
RichmondSpiders.com Interview With Cooper Taylor
07/15/2013 | Football
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – A dynamic force for the University of Richmond Spiders football team last season, DB Cooper Taylor was drafted in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
Recently, Cooper talked with RichmondSpiders.com about his draft experience, his first mini-camp and his reflections on his time at the University of Richmond.
What were your first thoughts when you heard you were drafted by the New York Giants?
I was in shock, there is no doubt about it. Playing in the NFL was something that I dreamed of since I was a little kid playing pee-wee football. When the moment finally came and I had completed a lifelong goal, I was in shock. It was only until a few days later that it actually hit me. I was totally overwhelmed with my emotions in that moment, so excited that I don't know if I truly believed what was happening.
You've had rookie mini-camp, what did you learn or what stuck out most from that experience?
I realized I have a great deal to learn and improve upon to be successful in the NFL. The NFL is a business with no guarantees. You could be on the team one day and then gone the next. As a player you have to be great everyday, every rep, in everything that you do because you are constantly being evaluated by someone. You have to be your best and do whatever it takes to be the best at all times because nothing at all is guaranteed.
Have the Giants told you how they thought they might utilize your rare combination of size and speed?
I think some of the reason that they drafted me is because of my unique combination of size and speed as a defensive back. Right now I am trying to learn and prepare as much as I can so that when I am given opportunities in practice and games I can make the most of them in whatever capacity they see me contributing in. I offer something most players cannot with my size and speed and am going to use that to be successful wherever the Giants feel I am needed.
What's been the biggest adjustment you've had to make so far on the field?
The biggest adjustment on the field so far has been learning the playbook. It is much larger than the typical college playbook, and there is great deal of detail. Going out to practice everyday making sure you know your assignment and can do your job has been the biggest challenge.
How has playing in the CAA at Richmond helped you prepare, football-wise, so far?
Playing at Richmond taught me more than I could have ever imagined. The great competition and athletes in the CAA prepared me athletically for the NFL. The coaches at Richmond, especially Coach Rocco and Coach Trott, taught me the habits and work ethic as well as an understanding of the game that will help me be successful at the next level, but also in life after football. The coaches at Richmond gave me a foundation for being successful in life, not just football.
What does it mean to you to have graduated from the University of Richmond?
It means a great deal. I graduated with a degree from the Robins school of Business, one of the top business schools in the country, and that degree is invaluable for my future success. I learned more than I ever could have imagined from my teachers and fellow classmates at Richmond. It was an extremely hard but fruitful accomplishment.
How did Richmond help you prepare for not only your NFL career, but your career after football?
Richmond did more than I can express to help me in anything that I will be involved in after college. I left Richmond with a great degree, lifelong friendships, and learned more than I could have ever imagined. In the business school and on the football field Richmond instilled in me an unwavering work ethic, passion for learning and growing as an individual, as well as an incredible support system of coaches, professors, and friends.
You were a standout both on the field and in the classroom at Richmond, how much pride do you take in that?
I am proud of my accomplishments at Richmond. Richmond gave me the opportunities to be successful and I was able to take advantage of them. I could not have done it without the help of my family, coaches and friends at UR. They taught me more than I could have ever dreamed of.
How did playing for Coach Rocco and Coach Trott, who have experience coaching in the NFL, help you in your transition?
Playing for two coaches that have NFL experience in Coach Trott and Coach Rocco prepared me immensely for the NFL. They taught me how to be a professional, to treat the game with the same intensity and passion everyday. The systems we ran also prepared me for the NFL. They taught me a great deal on how to be successful as a player but even more on how to be successful as a person.
What's your fondest memory during your time at Richmond?
It would have to be the last game I played at Richmond, the win against our rival at William and Mary to seal our share of the conference title. It was one of the most exciting days of my life and a memory I will cherish forever.
