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Taylor Named to Rimington Trophy Watch List
10/14/2020 2:15:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke redshirt junior Will Taylor has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List.
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The award is given annually to the nation's premier center by the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Â
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Taylor, a 6-3, 305-pound Snellville, Ga., product, has played in 14 career games (eight starts) accumulating 680 total snaps. With redshirt senior center Jack Wohlabaugh out indefiÂnitely in 2020 with a right knee injury, Taylor shifted nicely into that open center position. He was no stranger to that role as he earned three starts to end the 2019 season after Wohlabaugh sufÂfered a season-ending ankle injury.
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Most recently during Duke's game at Syracuse, Taylor helped the Blue Devils post 645 total yards, 36 first downs, a 39:43 time of possession edge and a 12-of-17 (.706) third down conversion rate. He also created open holes for running backs Deon Jackson (30-169) and Mataeo Durant (23-163 & 2 TDs) as the duo became the first pair in Duke history to register 150+ rushing yards in a single game.
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Taylor protected the Duke quarterbacks Chase Brice and Gunnar Holmberg in that contest as Duke threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns with the scoring throws covering 26 and 52 yards, respectively. He aided an offense that produced nine drives covering 40-plus yards including five drives of 60-plus yards as the balanced attack featured 10 rushes of 10-plus yards and 12 pass completions covering 10-plus yards as well.
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About the Rimington Trophy
The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. Since its inception, award has raised over $4.5 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
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Dave Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy's only two-time winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman. For more on the Rimington Trophy and a list of past recipients, visit www.rimingtontrophy.com
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About the Boomer Esiason Foundation
In 1993, Gunnar Esiason – son of former NFL MVP quarterback Boomer Esiason – was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs, digestive system, and reproductive system of about 30,000 Americans by causing a thick build-up of mucus that leads to blockage, inflammation, and infection.
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Boomer and his wife Cheryl founded the Boomer Esiason Foundation to raise funds and awareness for the cystic fibrosis community. The Foundation has raised over $150 million. Today, BEF offers scholarships, transplant grants, and other educational programs in an effort to assist CF patients and families in their daily lives. There have also been over 800 athletes who have competed in marathons, half marathons, and more to raise money and awareness for Team Boomer – the athletic division of the Foundation.
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#GoDuke
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The award is given annually to the nation's premier center by the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Â
Â
Taylor, a 6-3, 305-pound Snellville, Ga., product, has played in 14 career games (eight starts) accumulating 680 total snaps. With redshirt senior center Jack Wohlabaugh out indefiÂnitely in 2020 with a right knee injury, Taylor shifted nicely into that open center position. He was no stranger to that role as he earned three starts to end the 2019 season after Wohlabaugh sufÂfered a season-ending ankle injury.
Â
Most recently during Duke's game at Syracuse, Taylor helped the Blue Devils post 645 total yards, 36 first downs, a 39:43 time of possession edge and a 12-of-17 (.706) third down conversion rate. He also created open holes for running backs Deon Jackson (30-169) and Mataeo Durant (23-163 & 2 TDs) as the duo became the first pair in Duke history to register 150+ rushing yards in a single game.
Â
Taylor protected the Duke quarterbacks Chase Brice and Gunnar Holmberg in that contest as Duke threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns with the scoring throws covering 26 and 52 yards, respectively. He aided an offense that produced nine drives covering 40-plus yards including five drives of 60-plus yards as the balanced attack featured 10 rushes of 10-plus yards and 12 pass completions covering 10-plus yards as well.
Â
About the Rimington Trophy
The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. Since its inception, award has raised over $4.5 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Â
Dave Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy's only two-time winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman. For more on the Rimington Trophy and a list of past recipients, visit www.rimingtontrophy.com
Â
About the Boomer Esiason Foundation
In 1993, Gunnar Esiason – son of former NFL MVP quarterback Boomer Esiason – was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs, digestive system, and reproductive system of about 30,000 Americans by causing a thick build-up of mucus that leads to blockage, inflammation, and infection.
Â
Boomer and his wife Cheryl founded the Boomer Esiason Foundation to raise funds and awareness for the cystic fibrosis community. The Foundation has raised over $150 million. Today, BEF offers scholarships, transplant grants, and other educational programs in an effort to assist CF patients and families in their daily lives. There have also been over 800 athletes who have competed in marathons, half marathons, and more to raise money and awareness for Team Boomer – the athletic division of the Foundation.
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#GoDuke
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