Taylor Maxey’s job is to create gaps in front of him, but people often ask that he talk about who stands behind him.
That’s expected. He’s Georgia’s fullback, and he blocks for Todd Gurley.
“I don’t really know what’s going on behind me,” Maxey said. “I see (Gurley) run by me after I’m on the ground.”
When it came to Gurley’s 100-yard kick return against, Maxey didn’t even know if Georgia’s start running back would take it out of the endzone.
“All of the sudden he hits me from the back,” Maxey said. “I’m just happy I didn’t fall down on national TV.”
After not falling down on the kick return, the senior shined by throwing a critical block during Gurley’s 51-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
After his performance against Clemson, Maxey’s phone buzzed incessantly.
“I’ve been lucky to have a lot of family and friends supporting me this whole time so they’re all really happy for me,” he said. “I’m happy I can give that to them.”
His family likely feels a certain sense of pride. Maxey comes from a long line of Bulldogs, with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles all having earned degrees from Georgia. He started attending games at Sanford Stadium when he was about five years old.
“There’s a bunch of G’s in my life,” Maxey said about Georgia’s influence in his life.
Although he entertained an offer from Wofford to play linebacker out of North Oconee high school, the appeal becoming a Bulldog had was too strong. He grew up idolizing David Green and David Pollack. He’d go on to wear Pollack’s number as a Bulldog.
When he got to Athens, he walked on as a linebacker and spent two years on the scout team. Eventually, the coaches moved him to fullback and after chronic concussions cut Merritt Hall’s career short, Maxey took over the starting spot.
“I knew that was an opportunity for me and I didn’t want to let it go by,” Maxey said.
After growing up in Georgia-themed basements listening to Larry Munson call games, Maxey doesn’t mind talking about blocking Todd Gurley. It beats watching someone else do it.
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