THE LIFE OF A FOOTBALL MOM | Youlonda Taylor supporting Longhorn star Jaylan Ford
Youlonda Taylor is a busy, busy woman. But she’s never been so happy to be so busy in her entire life.
Youlonda is from Kilgore, but right now, she’s a citizen of the football world, so to speak, traveling to watch her son play the game he loves.
And you might have heard of him. His name is Jaylan Ford, the senior all-everything linebacker for the University of Texas.
The third-ranked Longhorns, of course, will play second-ranked Washington today, New Year’s Day, at Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
The game kicks off at 7:45 p.m. on ESPN; it is the second of the two semifinal games today. No. 1 Michigan faces No. 4 Alabama at 4 p.m. at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
The winners, of course, meet for the national championship next Monday, Jan. 8.
It’s probably fair to say the last few days have been busy for Youlonda and her party – she’s got some friends with her, and of course, Jaylan’s grandmother, Airica Kelly – but busier for Jaylan and the Longhorns.
The city, though, has been on-point, Youlanda said. “It’s been great. They’ve definitely welcomed us.”
It’s not her first time in New Orleans, she noted, just her first time in a while, and on the New Year’s holiday.
“I’ve been quite a few times, a lot of times,” she said. “I love the food, the culture. It’s a fun city. Everybody seems very welcoming, kind. The food is just a blast. I like the history. Seeing the hotels, how long they’ve been here. They’ve revamped into five-star hotels. It’s good to see that. I had never been here on New Year’s Eve. It’s been good to see how decorative everything has been. I’m glad I was able to experience it on New Year’s Eve.”
Jaylan’s had a little more to do, as anyone could imagine, getting ready to face the Huskies in the biggest game the ‘Horns have played in many years – possibly the biggest game the program has been in since the national championship game to conclude the 2009 season,
“They’ve been on a really strict schedule,” she said. “Movie nights, team dinners. It’s been a business trip. They’ve had a little down time. This is his first time in New Orleans. Of course, they had a curfew. They have been given some time to go do some shopping, and enjoy their time in the city.
“Everything else has been more meetings and dinners and things like that, preparation, practicing. (Sunday) was the last day, and the walk-through. Today’s game day.”
And for Jaylan Ford, he’s on the biggest stage of what has been a bright collegiate career.
In the 2023 season, Ford has 91 total tackles, 41 of them solo, according to ESPN. He’s got a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, two interceptions, and two passes defended.
In his UT career on the field in 35 games, Jaylan has 277 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles, six interceptions, and three fumble recoveries.
The 6-foot-3, 242-pound linebacker – a Communication and Leadership major who just celebrated birthday No. 22 on Nov. 28 – went to Lone Star High in Frisco, a program he helped reach the state semifinals in the UIL Class 5A playoffs in 2019, before moving on to big things at UT.
Jaylan had been on the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and so many more, far too many accolades to list them all here (literally).
Youlonda is an accountant, and she’s managed to be a witness to all of her son’s games. “I take vacation around the end of the year,” she said, with a laugh. “They all know.”
So what will game day be like for mom and her traveling party?
“We don’t have to be there by a certain time,” she said. “I do plan to be a couple of hours earlier, probably earlier than I normally am. But it’s his last year, so I want to have a little more time to enjoy the process.”
And what team does she think the ‘Horns will face next week in the national championship game in Houston?
“I’m gonna say Alabama,” she said “I think maybe because Michigan does have a good defense, but Alabama’s offense is better. I think the edge will come in coaching. Never count Nick Saban out.”
Speaking of coaches, Jaylan is a senior and he’s seen changes over the years within the UT football program. The changes brought to Texas football by head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff haven’t gone unnoticed on mom.
“The transformation they’ve brought to the program has been great,” she said. “I do like what they’ve done. I’ve seen them as a team, they’re closer. (Sarkisian) has built a great winning culture. Everybody, the team, seems to have bought in to what those coaches wanted. They’ve believed, and they’ve listened and built something great.
“I’m excited to see what’s in the future for (coach Sarkisian). He’s been very transparent about his past, and I think that’s what he’s brought to the team, is for people to embrace where you’ve been and what you’ve done, in order to move forward. You have to buy in to the plan, and they have.”
The plan for Jaylan Ford has turned into a four-year masterpiece. And dare we say, having such support from mom and family had a good-sized role in it.
University of Texas linebacker Jaylan Ford, a senior, will lead the Longhorns today against the Washington Huskies in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, one of two semifinals in the College Football Playoff. No. 1 Michigan faces No. 2 Alabama in the first game in the Rose Bowl, a 4 p.m. start on ESPN, and then the ‘Horns tie up with the Huskies at 7 p.m. in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. (Photo courtesy of YOULONDA TAYLOR)
Mom Youlonda Taylor gets to spend a minute on the field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin with son and standout linebacker Jaylan Ford, who spent MANY moments on that field, helping the Longhorns return to prominence. (Photo courtesy of YOULONDA TAYLOR)