By FRANK CASH

Herald-Whig Sports Writer

T.J. Taylor has had a sneak preview to his college days this week.

Taylor will be representing the West Hancock football program in Saturday night's KHQA Do or Die Bowl IV. Each day this week, he has practiced with the rest of the East All-Stars at Quincy University's A Field.

That's where Taylor will be spending most of his fall afternoons the next four years as a member of the QU football team.

"It's pretty neat," said Taylor, who will play at linebacker Saturday night and while in college. "This is my practice field now. I'm getting used to it now before all the other freshmen get here."

Making a college decision wasn't hard for Taylor. QU's linebacking corps consistently ranks among the best in the Mid-States Footabll Association.

"For linebackers, it's a great program," Taylor said. "Getting coached by those guys is going to help elevate my game. I want to coach and teach so I figured there wouldn't be a better place to go."

Taylor will start his college career by playing pain-free for the first time in almost two years.

During the third quarter of a 14-7 second-round playoff victory against Spring Valley Hall in 2006, Taylor was playing fullback as West Hancock was driving toward the end zone. On a dive play, Taylor tangled up with a defensive player and limped off the field.

"My aunt still remembers that player's number," Taylor said. "She remembers the play almost as well as I do."

The result was torn ligaments in Taylor's right ankle. He played sparingly in the Titans' 28-0 quarterfinal loss to Bureau Valley the following week. After resting during the offseason, Taylor was determined to play his senior year.

Taylor made it through his final year but in February, he had surgery to repair the ligments. He wasn't cleared to work out until late April.

"I played all 10 games last year but it wasn't easy," Taylor said. "I had pain every night. But the adrenalin kept me pumped up and carried me through. I wasn't going to sit out during my senior year."

Last season was a roller coaster for West Hancock. The Titans opened the season with three straight losses to Aledo, Porta and Illini West. A five-game win streak carried them into the playoffs, where they lost in the first round to Amboy 31-0.

An offseason coaching change was also challenging for the players.

"(Former coach Rick) Little was almost like a father figure to us," Taylor said. "But (current coach Don) Capaldo turned out to a great coach to play for. It just took us a while to get used to him plus we played a tough schedule early on."

Taylor's willingness to accept change and his ability to work hard hasn't been lost on the East coaches this week.

"We have several middle linebackers, where T.J. normally plays, and we came into the week a little slim at outside linebacker," said Macomb coach Kelly Sears, who is guiding the East. "T.J. stepped up the first day and said that he would play at outside. He's gone away and above the call of duty."

Taylor wants to do everything he can to prepare him for college success.

--sports@whig.com/221-3365