With linebacker/running back Myles Jack of UCLA garnering the Pac-12 freshman offensive and defensive player-of-the-year awards in football this year, it would be safe to say that he is a “jack”-of-all-trades. Just up the Pacific coastline, Malibu High School boasts its own precocious youngster, who is making a name for himself in three different sports.
Jordin Taylor, a 16-year-old sophomore, plays football, basketball and baseball for the Sharks’ JV teams. Born and raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Taylor moved to Malibu at the age of 10. A bit of a late-bloomer, the mild-mannered Taylor said sports were not even on his mind until he reached Malibu Middle School a few years ago. He’d never played tackle football prior to entering Malibu High School.
All of which made his performance in the junior varsity football team’s season finale, in which he put up video game numbers, even more impressive.
On Nov. 7 at Grace Brethren, Taylor accounted for 311 combined yards of total offense and scored three touchdowns. On defense, he recorded 15 tackles for the game. He also returned punts and kickoffs. Despite losing 46-30, Taylor and his teammates, each of whom played both offense and defense, were proud of the effort.
“I was happy,” Taylor said. “I was impressed by my team. It was the most fun we had throughout the season.”
After Malibu fell behind early to Grace Brethren, Taylor tied the game at seven in the first quarter with a 95-yard touchdown reception. When the Lancers scored again to make it 14-7, Taylor struck back immediately, returning the ensuing kickoff 85 yards to paydirt.
After a close first half, the game started to slip away during the third quarter. Yet Taylor wasn’t done yet.
With the ball on the Malibu 32-yard line, Taylor spread out wide and caught a pass from quarterback Dane Marshall. The super sophomore zigzagged his way through multiple defenders en route to an electrifying 68-yard touchdown to keep the Sharks within striking distance.
“We really needed it,” Taylor said. “Dane threw a terrific pass and I just ran and made it.”
After each offensive possession, he resorted back to defense playing free safety and strong safety throughout the contest. Then his number would be called again to return a kick on special teams or run a pass pattern for the offense.
The lack of depth ultimately took its toll on the Malibu players. Grace Brethren pulled away with two late touchdowns to ice the game.
Taylor finished the game with 176 receiving yards and added another 135 punt and kickoff return yards combined.
With football season over, Taylor is focusing his time on basketball. Last week in a tournament game against Ventura, Taylor scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while playing both point guard and forward for the Sharks’ frosh-soph basketball team.
In the spring, he’ll make his way over to the baseball diamond. Taylor possesses a strong arm that could aid the varsity baseball program in the coming three seasons. During a JV game last season against Fillmore, Taylor broke out on both sides of the ball, belting three hits and striking out 10 batters from the mound in a victory over the Flashes.
With his sophomore year half over, it appears Taylor will be a significant contributor in multiple sports during his junior and senior years at Malibu High. But as one of the few three-sport athletes on campus, he’s content just playing them all and getting better each day.
“It’s actually a lot of fun,” Taylor said. “I love all the coaches. It’s hard but they make it fun. And I love being out there with my friends. As a player, I just go out and do my best.”
Is he Malibu’s future version of Myles Jack? Upon the conclusion of the season, Taylor received the Most Valuable Player award for the JV football team.
Jack-of-all-trades; master of many.
