Exclusive: Putnam City standout, 3-star defensive end Taje McCoy announces college decision
By Taje McCoy
Special to the USA Today Network
Editor’s note: Putnam City edge rusher Taje McCoy wrote the following first-person story to announce where he’ll play college football.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound McCoy had 97 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles in 2022. In the past two seasons, McCoy racked up 186 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 17 sacks.
McCoy had more than a dozen offers, including Baylor, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt.
This has always been a dream for me, since I was a kid growing up.
Seeing all my family play, watching my older brother and cousins play and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. It persuaded me to pursue football. It persuaded me to be the best.
It was kind of hard not getting offers at first. I would see my buddies getting offers, like Avery Johnson and Dylan Edwards. I played little league with the both of them. I saw that it was possible to do what they’re doing because we all grew up together. I knew if I put in the work, it was possible.
Honestly, I didn’t realize that I could actually play in college until I got my first offer from Baylor on Nov. 18 of my junior year. It hit me that it was a reality, that this could be coming true.
More:2022 All-COAC football team: Mustang's Jacobe Johnson named Player of the Year
I didn’t picture myself coming that far. It was special too. I got to tell my grandma about it, and she passed two weeks later. I buried her wearing a Baylor wristband because it was so special to me.
All my life I played running back and linebacker until my sophomore year when they told me that they wanted to move me to edge. It was in a JV game. I found a position that suited me. It was a weight lifted off my shoulders because all I had to do was go get the quarterback. My coach, Rufus Alexander, tried me out at that position and it took off from there. That first game my junior year, I knew something special was about to happen.
I spent that whole summer working on more technique. My coach, Le Jones, we tweaked everything. He really broke down my game. He broke down everything I needed to work on. Hand placement, shooting my hands, working technique on pass rush, giving me an arsenal of moves in my toolbox.
I came out hard this year. Everybody got to see my dominate, seeing what I would do. I picked up where I left off last year. I worked out when no one was watching, putting in extra work.
When the offers really started coming in, I took it all in and tried to stay humble. Everyone gets a big ego when they get a lot of offers but none of my friends can say I changed.
I want to thank God. Without him it would not be possible. I want to thank my mom, dad and my family for taking care of me and supporting me. I want to thank all my coaches for seeing something in me and putting my name out there. I want to thank Carter Whitson, Rufus Alexander, Le Jones, Tucker Calmus and Mark Johnson, my little league coach, and every other coach who worked with me over the years.
I want to thank all the people who prayed for me, too, like my grandma and Bishop David Reed.
I’m humbled and blessed to announce that I will be playing — and dominating — at the University of Colorado. I plan on dominating for the next three years.
They treated me well and it made me feel special when I was the first one on a recruiting trip since Coach Prime got there.
Coach Prime was a great factor. Getting a feel for the head coach, seeing who I’m going to be around and his coaching staff. Coach Nick Williams was taking time and showing me different moves. Just at dinner, he stood me up and taught me different moves.
I felt at home right away.
I’m excited to get things rolling, getting things turned around as quick as we can and making a big impact.
Go Buffs!
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Putnam City standout, 3-star DE Taje McCoy announces college decision
