By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — When Alex Taylor arrived in Chapel Hill last year, the four-star wide receiver out of Greensboro knew patience would be key. He spent most of last season watching and learning, but the redshirt freshman says that time gave him perspective.
He admitted that not playing much serves as motivation now, and he leaned on veterans such J.J. Jones and Nate McCollum to get better at the position.
“I learned to just be patient and make the most of your opportunities,” said Taylor, who played in four games last season, catching one pass against N.C. Central for 15 yards.
At 6–1½ and 190 pounds, Taylor sees his size and ball skills as significant advantages, calling 50/50 balls “80/20” in his favor. His goal this season is to show that on the field.
While the Tar Heels dealt with heavy roster turnover in the offseason, the wide receiver room largely stayed intact. Taylor said the group’s bond and the arrival of new position coach Garrick McGee helped keep everyone together.
“We love UNC as a whole,” he said. “We’re really close off the field, and we liked everything Coach McGee talked about.”
The group is young, but that hasn’t changed expectations. McGee told them early that they’d need to make plays immediately, and Taylor said everyone embraced that challenge during training camp.
Taylor said the celebrity factor with legendary coach Bill Belichick leading the program wore off quickly after months of working with him, but it’s still surreal at times.
“It’s still kind of crazy thinking about, ‘Wow, Belichick’s your coach,’ ” he said. “But we’re getting close to the season, so it’s just there.”
Belichick has taken notice of Taylor’s development and versatility, calling him “a smart guy, very dependable … one of the players that the quarterbacks have a lot of confidence and trust in.”
Belichick added that Taylor’s ability to play multiple positions and adjust to different coverages gives the offense valuable flexibility.
That trust hasn’t come by accident. Taylor said earning it has been about consistency on offense, special teams and preparation. He listens closely in meetings and tries to apply NFL-level fundamentals to his game.
That commitment has carried over into his offseason work. Taylor wanted to get faster, stronger, and more explosive, and he credits new strength and conditioning coach Moses Cabrera for pushing him in those areas.
Taylor has overhauled his diet, cutting out fried food for greens, fruits, and lean protein.
“I know to get to my best self, I had to cut a lot of that out,” Taylor said.
Taylor has also worked to build chemistry with left-handed South Alabama transfer quarterback Gio Lopez. Fortunately, Taylor played with a left-handed quarterback in high school, so the adjustment has been minimal. Their timing improved through offseason throwing sessions and plenty of reps in camp.
Even in video sessions, Taylor continues to pick up small details from Belichick, particularly on technique and blocking angles. He takes notes constantly and shares what he learns with teammates.
“Every little thing is important,” Taylor said. “I just try to add it to my game.”
With all the work put in, Taylor’s mindset is clear: stay focused and let the results speak for themselves. He’s avoiding distractions and social media, keeping his attention on helping a young receiver group grow, and producing when the season begins.
Top photo via YouTube screenshot; practice photo by Joshua Lawton
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