Former Cape Central star healthy again for SEMO and feels 'amazing'

If you want to know how healthy Southeast Missouri State junior defensive back Dony’e Taylor is this spring, he showed a large crowd of Redhawk followers in the program’s recent spring game at Scott City High School very quickly that the old Dony’e Taylor was back and better than ever.

“Amazing,” Taylor responded with a big grin when asked how his health was currently. “God has blessed me.”

A year ago, the former Cape Central High School standout totaled just 12 tackles in seven games and had one lone pass breakup, which didn’t make much sense after Taylor had burst onto the SEMO scene as a freshman in 2021 with a very productive season.

“I hurt both my ankles,” Taylor said of last fall.

Both?

“Yeah, both my ankles,” Taylor continued. “But they were at different times.”

Now, his lack of production in 2022 begins to make sense.

As a freshman in 2021, he registered 46 tackles, which was sixth on the team, to go with one interception, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery.

He began the rehabilitation process last season and continued it through this spring, and the therapeutic results showed in the spring game.

Just three plays into the game, Taylor rose up and intercepted a throw from Redhawk quarterback Paxton DeLaurent.

“This spring has been amazing,” Taylor beamed. “I am growing as a player and learning more spots on the defense.”

Taylor is one of many talented bodies vying for time in 2023 on the back end of the Redhawk defense. The position group may be as deep and talented as any part of the Redhawk lineup in 2023.

“He had a solid spring for us,” SEMO defensive pass game coordinator Ray Smith said of Taylor. “He was productive for us and had a good spring in going to the ball.”

Taylor not only spent time rehabbing his ankles, but he has obviously spent a lot of time in the strength and conditioning aspect of the program. He is listed at 202 pounds but is more than likely much bigger.

“Working with ‘Coach Nap,’” Taylor said of Redhawk Director of Sports Performance Ryan Napoli. “That is all I can say.”

Taylor got time in 11 games in 2021 before being limited last year, and Smith is looking forward to having his full complement of players available this fall.

“Dony’e is always a big part of what we do,” Smith said. “He fought through some injuries, and we had other guys step up. He wasn’t fully comfortable, but at the end of the day, he kept grinding in his rehab and stayed locked in, so when it was time to come and make some plays at the end of the year, he still came in and made some plays for us.”