Former Peoria High, Illini quarterback transfers to Alabama A&M

Coran Taylor has a new football home.

The former Illinois and Peoria High all-state quarterback announced Friday he will continue his college career at Alabama A&M, according to a social media post.

Taylor, who has graduated from the University of Illinois, left the Illini and entered the transfer portal in April.

"Everybody wanted me to go back to my old ways," Taylor wrote on his post, which included multiple pictures of him playing quarterback and logos of Alabama A&M.

A&M is an NCAA Division I Football Championship Series school from the Southwest Athletic Conference. It went 7-3 last season and 5-3 in the SWAC.

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At Illinois, Taylor moved from quarterback to safety in 2021 and did not play in a game. He appeared in three games as a quarterback in 2019 and 2020, and completed 23-of-46 passes for 379 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for 85 career yards.

"My time here in Champaign has come to an end," Taylor wrote in April. "I'm extremely thankful for all the people I've met these past four years."

Moving on: Former Peoria High quarterback leaves Illini football for NCAA transfer portal

Taylor led Peoria High to the 2016 IHSA Class 5A state title. The Lions quarterback threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 134 yards and three touchdowns in a 62-48 victory against Vernon Hills.

The Peoria native was a three-star recruit and the No. 870-ranked player in the country in the Class of 2018, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Wes Huett is Journal Star sports editor. Email him at whuett@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @WesHuett.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: NCAA football transfer portal: Illini QB Coran Taylor to Alabama A&M