Scout.com > Wisconsin Almost a Hawkeye Story URL: http://wisconsin.scout.com/2/682939.html Chris Pool BadgerNation.com Sep 23, 2007 One of the Badgers unofficial visitors yesterday was Green Bay linebacker Mike Taylor. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder from Green Bay (Wis.) Ashwaubenon is verbally committed to Wisconsin which is just fine by him but he thought there was a time this past spring that he’d be standing on a different sideline. “My first scholarship offer was from North Dakota State,” Michael Taylor told Badger Nation. “I really wasn’t being recruited very hard at that point so I thought North Dakota State was going to be my school and I was fine with that. “I was getting a lot of letters from all the bigger schools and Wisconsin wanted me to camp but I really didn’t know what would happen or what to expect with offers. “Iowa got a hold on my junior highlight tape and the next thing I knew, I received a call from one of their assistant coaches (Lester Erg) and they offered me a scholarship. So after that I was really excited and I thought to myself that I would be Hawkeye. “I grew up a huge Wisconsin fan. I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve always wanted to be a Badger but they didn’t offer and Iowa did. I think Iowa offered a little bit before I went to Wisconsin’s camp. “When I camped at Wisconsin, I thought I did well but I didn’t get an offer until about a week after camp and I committed right away. "I’m living a dream. Coach Bosted is recruiting me and we get along great. I really like all the coaches at Wisconsin. The campus, facilities and atmosphere are as good as it gets.” Taylor was moved up the varsity as a sophomore where he learned the ropes from his older brother. “I didn’t know what to expect when I was moved up the varsity,” Taylor said. “My older brother made things a little easier and I already knew a lot of the guys. "I just kept working hard and was eventually put in the starting line-up at outside linebacker. “My junior year, I moved to middle linebacker so I could make plays in the box an also from sideline-to-sideline. It was an adjustment. "Playing middle is a lot different than being on the outside but I adjusted well and just wanted to help the team as much as I could so I didn’t care where the coaches played me.” Taylor was named all-state in 2006 by several media outlets after he racked up 100 plus tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. He also had five picks as a sophomore. Taylor was also named Player-of-the-Year in Green Bay after his junior year. Copyright © Scout.com and BadgerNation.com