Coran Taylor now listed as DB on Illinois’ roster

Once upon a time saying he was “ready like spaghetti” for the chance to play quarterback, Coran Taylor will enter the 2021 season as a defensive back.

A three-star recruit out of Peoria in 2018, Taylor hasn’t gotten much time under center with the Illini. He redshirted the 2018 season, appeared in one game in 2019 as a redshirt-freshman, and then got two games of action in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, getting the start against Minnesota.

WIth Brandon Peters returning for a third season in Champaign and former Rutgers starter Art Sitkowski coming in, the odds against Taylor ever becoming the guy for the Illini were slim.

Since Bret Bielema took over, we’ve already seen another once-highly touted QB prospect change positions: Isaiah Williams shifted to wide receiver earlier this offseason.

Taylor’s move was first reported by Joey Wagner of 247 Sports.

It does say something about the state of the program when Bielema is able to get guys to commit to the team and change positions, rather than choose to find playing time elsewhere. I’m not sure what the market would have looked like for Williams or Taylor, but Bielema has to be happy to find a new place for them on the roster.

Also reported Tuesday morning by 247 was tailback/wide receiver Kyron Cumby entering the transfer portal.