Former pro inspires Rutgers commit Jonathan Taylor, Salem football team

  • 10/22 - 12:00 PM FootballFinal
    Pennsville 35
    Salem 46
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SALEM - Salem running back Jonathan Taylor has a goal of playing in the National Football League someday and the Rutgers commit got a look at that aspiration when he met a former player who once had that same dream and made it come true.

Lydell Mitchell, a 1968 Salem graduate, was on hand for the Rams' 46-35 victory over rival Pennsville and made an impression on Taylor, who was in awe after his encounter with a man who had a Hall of Fame career at Penn State and went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Baltimore Colts.

"(Mitchell) played 10 years in the league coming right out of my hometown,” Taylor said. “That's just an example that it is possible if you work hard."

Taylor gave the former pro a show to remember on Saturday as he displayed his ability to blow past defenders on touchdown runs of 63 and 75 yards. The senior also showed that he’s not afraid of contact, running over several defenders throughout the day.

"You kind of want to set the tone,” Taylor said. “After a while when you keep pounding and pounding and pounding, some guys are tough and fight back, but some guys fold. So you just want to keep running aggressive, because you never know when you might break one."

Mitchell was so impressed by Taylor that he took him aside and spoke to him one on one for about five minutes after the game.

"He told me he loved how I'm (hitting) the books and he said he loved my character,” Taylor said. “A lot of guys score and get cocky, but he likes how I hand the ball to the ref and go celebrate with my teammates. I felt honored that he watched our team play. He's a Salem legend and a lot of guys look up to him."

Mitchell also addressed the entire Salem team and congratulated them on beating Pennsville, which he said he had never done during his high school career. He also stressed the importance of education.

“It was great seeing Lydell Mitchell,” Salem coach Montrey Wright said. “A lot of our guys have heard of Lydell but they never really got a chance to see him in person. With him coming in and speaking to the guys, I think they were ecstatic about that. He spoke about doing the right things, going to college and playing high-level football. Seeing him was a big deal.

"We have a lot of great guys supporting the program, and the kids appreciate every bit of it. It means a lot to have those big-name alumni guys come back and talk to our kids and share stories."

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