Biography
Second-year player is the project starter at Bandit linebacker . . . has appeared in 28 career games (Kennesaw State and ULM combined), including three starting assignments . . . has registered 75 career tackles, with six resulting in losses (25 yards) including 2.5 sacks (20 yards) . . . 2021 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Saw action in all 12 games in 2021, including three starts at Sam linebacker (vs. Troy, at Coastal Carolina and at App State) . . . ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 56 (26 solos, 30 assists), with four for losses (22 yards) including 2.5 sacks (20 yards) . . . delivered at least a half tackle for loss in five games . . . played 449 snaps on defense and made 101 appearances on special teams (primarily punt coverage, kickoff coverage and kickoff return) . . . played more than 40 defensive snaps in four games . . . credited with two quarterback hurries in the season finale at No. 23 Ragin’ Cajuns . . . played 52 defensive snaps in the home finale vs. Arkansas State and recorded his first career interception to go along with six tackles . . . also contributed six stops each in back-to-back games vs Georgia State and Liberty . . . made five tackles and recovered a fumble at No. 16 Coastal Carolina; his fumble recovery late in the first quarter set up a field goal . . . shared Warhawk Defensive Player of the Week honors (with Adam Sparks) after producing a career-best eight tackles to go along with a pass break-up in his first collegiate start vs. Troy; also played a career-high 65 defensive snaps . . . posted his first career sack (10 yards) in the 2021 home opener vs. Jackson State . . . JUNIOR COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS: Received COVID-19 season of competition waiver for 2020-21 . . . started the first five games of the spring 2021 schedule at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas . . . named second-team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference . . . ranked third on team in tackles with 42 (29 solos, 13 assists) . . . led the Grizzlies in tackles for loss (13 for 73 yards) and sacks (4.5 for 25) . . . produced nine tackles (8 solos, 1 assist) vs. Highland, including two for losses of 12 yards; also forced a fumble . . . recorded three tackles for loss (16 yards) at Coffeyville, including two sacks for 10 yards, and recovered a fumble . . . made nine stops (6 solos, 3 assists) at Dodge City, with three coming behind the line of scrimmage (11 yards) including a 5-yard sack . . . tallied nine tackles and a pass break-up in the home opener vs. Hutchinson; collected a season-best 4.5 tackles for losses (32 yards) including an 8-yard sack . . . selected KJCCC Defensive Player of the Week after registering 10 tackles (5 solos, 5 assists), including a half sack for 2 yards, an interception and a pass break-up in the season opener at Independence . . . KENNESAW STATE HIGHLIGHTS | 2019 SEASON (RED-SHIRT FRESHMAN): Appeared in 13 of 14 games in 2019 as the Owls finished third in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in total defense, allowing just 278.7 yards per game . . . posted 18 total tackles (11 solos, 7 assists), including two for losses (3 yards) . . . made three solo stops vs. Gardner-Webb . . . also contributed three tackles at Presbyterian . . . credited with four stops (3 solos, 1 assist), including one for a 2-yard loss, and a pass break-up in his collegiate debut vs. Point University . . . 2018 SEASON: Named to the 2018-19 Big South Conference Presidential Honor Roll . . . redshirted . . . saw action in three games (vs. Alabama State, Clark Atlanta and Presbyterian) . . . made a solo tackle vs. Clark Atlanta . . . HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Four-year letterman for Coach Ken Fordham at Wadley (Alabama) High School . . . two-time first-team all-state selection by the Alabama Sports Writers Association . . . earned all-region honors three years in a row . . . named first-team all-state (athlete) by the ASWA as a senior in 2017 . . . returned punts for touchdowns in back-to-back games vs. Donoho (53 yards) and Horseshoe Bend (50) . . . scored TDs three different ways vs. Donoho (53-yard punt return, 37-yard interception return and 7-yard reception) . . . selected ASWA first-team all-state as a defensive back as a junior in 2016 . . . returned punts for scores vs. Woodland (43 yards) and Victory Christian (77) . . . named ASWA all-state honorable mention as a wide receiver in 2015 . . . had 30 receptions for 382 yards (12.7 avg.) and four TDs in 2015; also intercepted seven passes, returning two for scores . . . two-time ASWA all-state and three-time all-county selection in basketball for Coach Logan Cofield . . . averaged a double-double (points and rebounds) for his last three varsity seasons . . . led the county in scoring as a senior in 2017-18, averaging 16.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, while helping Wadley to its first area championship since the 1980s to go along with its second-straight trip to the state regionals . . . ASWA first-team all-state selection averaged 24.5 points and 11.2 rebounds as a junior while leading the Bulldogs to state regionals for the first time in school history . . . selected to play in the North-South All-Star Game after his junior season . . . averaged 24.4 points and 13.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore to earn ASWA second-team all-state honors; posted double-doubles in 18 of 21 games . . . voted Randolph County Player of the Year as both a sophomore and a junior . . . one of his top single-game performances came vs. Beulah, posting 45 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and six blocked shots . . . talented three-sport athlete won the 2018 Class 1A state championship in both the high jump and triple jump; scored 40 of Wadley’s 46 total points in the state meet while placing third overall as a team . . . given name is Taquavian Drake . . . born March 15, 2000 . . . son of Tim and Thressa Drake . . . majoring in general studies.
