Alex Taylor aiming to mirror versatile Andrew Harris

Alex Taylor was sitting alone on the turf at the University of Winnipeg watching the final rounds of drills at the CFL National Scouting Combine presented by adidas when Andrew Harris walked by, patted him on the back and said, “good luck.”

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers star was on hand to pass on some words of wisdom, while also doing a bit of coaching, to the running backs before they hit the field for their one-on-one drills.

Taylor – a life-long Blue Bombers fan who also happens to model his game after Harris – took the opportunity to get advice from one of his biggest role models and ran with it.

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Harris coaches the running backs during the national combine on Sunday (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)

“He was just out here to coach,” Taylor said after his impressive one-on-one showing. “He was just coaching everyone up and when I got the chance to talk to him he just told me how I can improve on the drills and improve my technique and improve my game.

“That was important and special coming from a guy who’s done it all, seen it all, and one of the best backs in the league so definitely help me improve on my ability. He let me know and gave me some tips I’ll consider going forward for sure.”

Taylor, a five-foot-nine, 202-pound running back from Western University, tested well at the national combine and set himself apart during his one-on-one session.

He bench pressed 11 reps and ran a 4.9 second 40-yard dash while also posting a 7.31 time in the 3-cone drill and a 4.34 shuttle on Saturday. He then went on to jump 30.5” in the vertical and 9’5” in the broad on Sunday.

“I thought it overall started slow across the board for the running back position,” Taylor admitted. “The ‘backers kind of had our numbers today but we got a little bit better and I’d say as the drill went on a little bit better.

“In terms of the passing one-on-ones, I thought I did good. I thought I had a little bit more to show in the passing one-on-ones but that’s how the game is, it comes with the territory. I don’t want to say we were tired, we were working out there. I thought I did good and I’m just going to improve on it going forward.”

Alex Taylor was satisfied with his performance at the national combine (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)

CFL.ca’s Marshall Ferguson compared Taylor to Toronto Argonaut Anthony Coombs with his ability to run with the ball past the second level. The pair are virtually the same size – Coombs is the same height and just a few pounds lighter – and both are able to catch passes out of the back field.

During Coombs’ combine, he tested as a running back until Calgary Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson told him to join the receivers group and run drills with them. He went on to get drafted third-overall by the Argonauts that year and suits up regularly as a slot back in Marc Trestman’s offence.

Taylor hoped that he showed enough of his versatility – he tested as both a receiver and running back in the one-on-ones – to coaches and general managers during the combine process.

“I just hope that I left the impression that I have a decent character and I’m versatile and compatible with a big group of guys that are out competing here right now,” he said. “Definitely most of all that I am versatile, I can catch the ball, I can run the ball, I can block and I can play specials.”

Taylor was a part of the Vanier Cup Champion Western Mustangs in 2017. He rushed 107 times for 831 yards and two touchdowns while also catching 15 passes for 181 yards and four major scores. That performance led him to OUA First-Team All-Star and a U SPORTS First-Team All-Canadian honours.

Now all that’s left for Taylor is to wait and see if he did enough to prove that he’s ready to take the next step into the professional ranks on draft day on May 3.

“It would be special,” he smiled when asked what it would be like to one day play alongside Harris. “It’s not necessarily just playing in the same league as Andrew Harris, as cool as that is. But it would for sure be cool playing against some guys that when I was younger I had the opportunity to watch.

“Guys like Harris, Coombs and (Nic) Demski, to consider them my peers and guys that I play at the same level as would definitely be an honour and be special.”