Brock Taylor’s path to becoming Vanderbilt’s starting kicker has been anything but traditional. Growing up in a family rooted in soccer, Taylor didn’t initially see himself pursuing football at any point. Both of his older sisters played soccer, and it was only natural for him to follow suit. 

It wasn’t until middle school — after years of playing competitive soccer — that Taylor experienced burnout, leading him to explore other sports. He originally gravitated toward basketball and lacrosse, but that didn’t last long. Little did he know that a casual invitation from coaches and friends would change his life; the football team needed a kicker, and Taylor was up for the challenge. Taylor’s journey into football, which began during his freshman year of high school, got off to a rocky start. 

“When I started kicking freshman year, I was really bad at it,” Taylor said. “But I liked how different football was compared to soccer and basketball. It was a lot more intense for me.” 

Despite his early struggles, Taylor’s passion for kicking grew as he developed physically and gained confidence. By the end of freshman year, his skills started to blossom, and he was ready for his next chapter. He transferred to Knoxville Catholic High School, a powerhouse program, during his sophomore year. It marked a turning point in his career. 

“The move to Knoxville was a big change,” Taylor said. “But Knoxville Catholic had won four championships in the five years before I transferred, so I knew I was going to be entering a really good football program.” 

In addition to a high quality football program, Taylor also factored education into his decision.

“My family places a strong emphasis on education, and I knew I would get a better education in the private school over the public school,” Taylor said.

Though the transfer initially posed social challenges as he was stepping into a new environment with unfamiliar faces, Taylor viewed this solitude as an opportunity for growth.

“I used that time alone to get better, and that’s why sophomore year is when I saw the most progression in my abilities,” Taylor said. 

Taylor also had family in Knoxville, which made the move a lot easier while also reinforcing a common theme in his life — family was another guiding factor in his decision-making process. 

Taylor’s hard work paid off as his recruitment process heated up. As a three-star recruit, he was ranked as the No. 4 kicker in the high school Class of 2023, per 247sports. He initially considered schools like Florida State — even taking an unofficial visit to Tallahassee during the spring of his junior year — but Vanderbilt stood out due to its academic prowess. He also wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself and help bring Vanderbilt’s program back to life.

“Just like high school, knowing I was getting a good education was a big factor for me, and I loved the idea of being part of the football program’s rebuilding process,” Taylor said. 

He ultimately chose the Commodores over Air Force and Tennessee Tech. He loved the school, the team and the idea of revitalizing a struggling program, but more than anything else, Taylor chose Vanderbilt so that his parents could easily attend games. 

“I wanted them to be able to wake up on a Saturday morning, drive down and watch me play stress-free. That was most important to me,” Taylor said.

Despite redshirting his freshman year, Taylor used the time to grow both mentally and physically. It wasn’t easy for him, though, as he wanted to jump right into the fire and help his team.

“I came to Vanderbilt wanting to play right away, and when I realized I wasn’t going to, it was tough,” Taylor said. “But I had to decide how to take that experience — either let it beat me down or use it to learn and get stronger. Once I chose the latter, everything started clicking.” 

That mindset fueled his preparation for his sophomore year, when Taylor emerged as Vanderbilt’s starting kicker. He got off to a hot start in his first career game, nailing a 53-yard field goal in the Commodores’ season-opener against Virginia Tech. He kicked perfectly against Alcorn State, going seven-for-seven on extra points and two-for-two on field goal attempts. He stayed perfect against Georgia State with three extra points and a field goal. In Week Four he faced his toughest challenge yet.

In Vanderbilt’s first SEC game of the season against Missouri, Taylor missed two crucial field goals — one from 50 yards and another from 31. 

The 31-yard miss was especially hard for him to deal with. The kick would’ve taken Vanderbilt into triple overtime against a then-top 10 team in the country. In the same game that he hit a 57-yarder — Vanderbilt’s program record — he also missed a 31-yarder. 

“That one hurt,” Taylor said. “It was our first SEC game, and we knew we had a ton of talent. A win would have been huge. It hurt, not just because I missed, but because I knew all my teammates deserved my best that day, and I didn’t deliver.”

It stung for a bit afterward, but Taylor’s ability to bounce back from that game captured his mindset. Instead of letting past mistakes define him, he turned to teammates and coaches for support. 

“After the game, all of our captains came up to me and let me know that they still trusted me. They wouldn’t have wanted anyone else taking those kicks, and that meant a lot,” Taylor said. “You’re always going to have bad games, no matter how good you are. It’s part of the game. But if you let one bad moment shake your confidence, you’re done.”

Taylor’s mindset has been shaped by his faith. For him, everything happens for a reason, and he takes comfort in the belief that his path is already set. The miss against Missouri might have been a tough pill to swallow, but he knows he needed it to happen. This perspective has helped him approach successes and failures with a sense of balance, knowing that each moment — good or bad — plays a role in his journey. 

“I’m a super religious person, and I think everything that happened up to that point needed to happen for the success that came after,” Taylor said. “I really believe that everything is already written, and if you try to fight it, then you’re in the wrong.” 

Taylor has since made a name for himself, earning SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice in a row following standout performances against Alabama and Kentucky. He hit kicks of 51 yards and 50 yards in each game, respectively, and helped Vanderbilt to two of its biggest wins in recent memory.

His ability to stay composed under pressure has become a key component of his success. Playing kicker is not easy — much of the game is spent watching from the sideline waiting for your moment to come. Many of these moments are high-stakes, and Taylor uses a unique routine to stay calm during high-stakes moments: clenching his left fist before a kick.

“My mom sent me an article about how it helps your mind stay focused,” Taylor said. “I have no idea if it really works, but it’s part of my routine now.”

Training for long-distance kicks is another area where Taylor excels. He credits his fast-twitch muscles and lower body strength for his ability to consistently connect on 50-plus-yard field goals — but power isn’t the only factor. His technique is equally important, a skill he developed under the guidance of Gerald Robinson, the special teams coach at Farragut High School. Robinson has been a mentor to Taylor, providing invaluable insights from his extensive career in kicking and coaching, particularly alongside Ray Guy.

“Robinson helped me control my leg speed and focus on making kicks smoother, rather than violent,” Taylor said. “He was the first one to explain to me that I had a fast leg, but if I couldn’t control it, it wouldn’t matter.”

In Week Nine against Texas, Taylor connected on a 54-yarder, his second-longest of the season. The results speak for themselves, as Taylor is also the first player in Vanderbilt Football’s program history to make five 50-yarders in a season.

With postseason play on the horizon for Vanderbilt, Taylor remains focused on improving week by week. He is determined to keep pushing himself physically and mentally. 

“We’ve been talking about going bowling since I got here, and this year we definitely have the talent to do it,” Taylor said. 

With a strong season behind him and a bright future, Taylor’s journey from the soccer field to the football stadium is a testament to his resilience, hard work and love of the game. As he continues to break records and earn recognition, one thing is clear: Brock Taylor is just getting started.

Taylor will return to the field against Auburn on Nov. 2 at 11:45 a.m. CDT as he and the rest of the Commodores seek to earn bowl eligibility.