Former Chiefs football player signs with Crown College

Ronan High School football player Coleman Taylor whittled down his college choices pretty quickly and chose to sign a letter of intent with Crown College in Minnesota.

“I had a few different options concerning colleges and was contacted by two schools for football in California and North Dakota and the main reason I chose Crown, it felt like a family,” Taylor said. “I took my college visit over there and instantly felt like I was part of the team at home and I wanted to be somewhere where they care about you as a man, as not just one of the players on the football team and that is what led my choice to Crown.”

Taylor, who will graduate Ronan with a 3.8 GPA, said he aspires to be in sports management and was interested in a 14-to-1 student to teacher ratio.

Unlike other football programs, Crown College was so interested in Coleman that they asked him what position he would like to play at their NCAA Division III program, an extremely rare position most players don’t find themselves in.

“I felt really comfortable playing the position of center and I’ve been playing (that position) now for over eight years. I’ve always felt like I am a great person to lead the offensive line, especially at that position. (Playing center) is a natural position and snapping and blocking is just ingrained in my mind after playing football for so many years,” Taylor said.

Taylor said he is looking forward to the challenge of playing at the NCAA Division III level.

“The challenge it does motivated me a lot and I would like to live up to those expectations and surpass those expectations (my college will have for me),” Taylor said. “I look forward to making myself better and looking forward to future challenges on and off the field.”

Taylor has credited all of his coaches, specifically Matt Detwiler and Brian Labbe.

“Matt was a great head coach and was an assistant coach for all the years of my high school career and he’s really prepared me for what to expect and he always pushes you hard and is able to get the best out of you,” Taylor said of his coach. “Labbe has pushed me to all of my limits and has made me a better man on the field and off the field.”

Taylor aspires to be an activities director, coach or NFL scout for his future plans.

Taylor will move to his dorm in August.

“I would like to thank my family and other supporters for being there in great and not so great times,” Taylor said. “The fact they’ve been there has been a true blessing for me.”