Dadrion Taylor-Demerson awaits senior day moment for Texas Tech football
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson didn't go through the senior day festivities last year. He knew he was coming back to the Texas Tech football team for the 2023 season. He would have his moment later.
The time has arrived for the fifth-year defensive back. Taylor-Demerson, known as Rabbit, has been looking forward to his final home game. One of Tech's hottest players at the moment, Taylor-Demerson also has big plans for his last go in the Jones.
"I've been thinking about it all week, man," Taylor-Demerson said. "Walking out with my daughter and my family, it's gonna be a pretty cool experience. ...
"I'm planning on having a really, really good game."
What Taylor-Demerson has done over the past few weeks, if not all season, makes his declaration even more lofty. The last time he played in front of the home crowd, Taylor-Demerson had two interceptions for the first time in his career, which included the game-sealing pick of TCU's Josh Hoover.
He followed that up with a nifty interception against Kansas, one that saw the 5-foot-11 safety stick his arm between the Jayhawk receivers' hands, ripping the ball away for the pick.
Taylor-Demerson admitted he isn't quite sure what a "really, really good game" will look like, though he has an idea.
"I just know that it's my last game in the Jones," Taylor-Demerson said. "I'm a performer. I'm gonna put on a show for Red Raider Nation."
Going out on a high note is something Taylor-Demerson said he's always wanted to do. Opportunity awaits Rabbit and his teammates to do just that.
Texas Tech (5-5, 4-3) hosts Central Florida at 4 p.m. Saturday with both teams a game away from bowl eligibility. The Knights (5-5, 2-5) have had their struggles throughout the year, just like the Red Raiders. Still, UCF is coming off a 45-3 manhandling of Oklahoma State. Its offense features explosive players who have made plenty of big-yardage plays this season.
Asked about UCF's explosive offense, Taylor-Demerson quipped, "You ain't hear a lot about our defense, huh?"
The Red Raiders are giving up 24.4 points per game this season, a near five-point improvement from a season ago. If it holds, it would be the best mark for the team since 2009. These improvements include in total offense (best since 2012) and passing yards (best since 2013) for a defense manned by Taylor-Demerson in center field.
"We play defense here at Texas Tech," he added later.
Layla Grace, Taylor-Demerson's daughter, hasn't been able to attend Tech's home games this year. Start times have been too late for her bedtime. But Layla will be on the field with her dad as he receives his senior day jersey, something Rabbit has been looking forward to for a long time.
"I never thought that I would have made it this far," Taylor-Demerson said. "Just a blessing to be in the position that I'm at right now."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Taylor-Demerson awaits senior day moment for Texas Tech football
