Former South Stanly (Norwood, N.C.) standout Justin Taylor intends on being a Virginia Tech Hokie, but the 6-2 defensive end prospect has decided to hold off on enrolling this summer and now plans on enrolling in January. As South Stanly head coach Luke Little explains, the decision is not related to academics.

“He is going to Hargrave Military Academy until January. Then, he’ll go to Virginia Tech,” Little said of Taylor, who signed a letter of intent with Virginia Tech in February. “Academically, he is fine. They went this route to give him another year to play before he goes to Virginia Tech. As far as his classwork and everything is concerned, he’s fine. He’ll go to Hargrave and take some classes, but he doesn’t need to improve anything.”

Taylor was primarily a basketball player before the fall of 2008. That year, he decided to play football for the first time. He certainly was raw out on the gridiron, but he showed off excellent athleticism and went on to earn scholarship offers from the likes of Virginia Tech, Auburn and N.C. State in the offseason before his senior season.

Taylor was tough to handle as a senior, racking up 16 sacks despite missing the first four games of the season due to a hamstring injury. But both he and the Tech coaches felt it would be best to gain another year of football experience before arriving in Blacksburg.

...