Taylor football opens fall practice on Aug. 3
The Taylor Ducks varsity football program is preparing to begin fall camp as practices open Aug. 3 in anticipation of the 2026 season.
After taking a major step forward last season, the Ducks enter camp with one of the most experienced rosters of the Earven Flowers era. With several key starters returning on both sides of the ball, Taylor hopes continuity and experience will translate into more consistent play this fall. Head coach Earven Flowers said one of the biggest differences between this offseason and last year’s is the maturity of his team.
“Our kids have grown. They have been in the weight room this offseason, and they aren’t young guys anymore. They have a lot of playing time from last year, so I am expecting to see growth on the field as well and consistency. I think we have some pieces. We just need to find consistency,” Flowers said.
The Ducks entered fall camp a year ago having to replace much of their production, including starting quarterback Eli Laurence.
This season, however, Taylor returns the majority of its offensive core, including quarterback Johnny Guzman, running back Eric Walker and wide receiver Elijah Afenkhena.
Flowers said returning veterans allow the coaching staff to spend less time teaching the basics and more time expanding the offense.
“That’s the big key.
Really good teams can do their core concepts really well. With our guys already having a leg up on that, we don’t have to teach it as much. We can progress to more things that can help us be successful,” he said.
Perhaps the biggest boost for the Ducks is the return of Guzman under center.
It marks the first time since Flowers became Taylor’s head coach that he will have the same starting quarterback returning for a second consecutive season.
“That is definitely one of the more exciting parts for me,” Flowers said. “Now our guys know what to do.
We have a ton of experience at the quarterback position, and I’m really excited about the leadership we have in that area.”
While the offense returns much of its production, Flowers said the defense will be a major point of emphasis during fall camp.
Taylor showed flashes defensively last season but struggled against some of the stronger opponents on its schedule, surrendering 42 or more points in six of its 11 games.
Flowers believes new defensive concepts, combined with experienced returners, will help the unit take a step forward.
“I’m excited about some of the new concepts we are introducing. I think they will fit our guys’ skill sets, and we will be breaking that out in the first couple of scrimmages,” Flowers said. “We have some guys coming back up front who are all-district players, and then we’ve got some guys in the secondary who played a lot of ball. We just need to get the linebacker position shored up.”
Above all else, Flowers said the Ducks’ biggest goal throughout fall camp is staying healthy.
“That’s the main thing. If we can stay healthy and continue to progress like we have been doing, the sky is the limit for us,” he said.
The Ducks will open fall practice Aug. 3 and begin with the UIL-required four-day acclimatization period before transitioning into full-pad practices later in camp as they prepare for the start of the 2026 season.
“That’s the main thing. If we can stay healthy and continue to progress like we have been doing, the sky is the limit for us.”
— Head Coach Earven Flowers
