The Run "Hearn" 'round Clemson's Death Valley
Earlier this season, Clemson's Taylor Hearn was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the week for his play at Louisville, but you probably didn't even see him that night.
Being an offensive lineman in a sport filled with highlights from skill position players, sometimes the biggest individuals on the field can go unnoticed. In fact, on the offensive line, they want to go unnoticed. Normally when a lineman's name gets called, it's because they've committed a penalty.
However, last Saturday, Clemson guard Taylor Hearn found himself in a peculiar position. Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant was attempting to make a move in the open field; Bryant took a hit, and the ball popped free. It bounced one time into the awaiting arms of Hearn, a 6-foot-5, 330-pound offensive guard, who rumbled 12-yards and sparked Clemson's first score of the day.
I spoke with Hearn's parents, Roger and Kay, about the play that excited a sleepy Death Valley last weekend.
Hearn grew up in Barnwell County. The small town of Williston would be the backdrop for his formative years playing football.
I wondered if Hearn's carry was possibly a flashback to his younger playing days. I came to find out that he was always "the big kid," never the star tailback.
When Taylor was younger, he used to say, "I wish I could get more recognition and run the ball sometimes," but he knew that was out in left field his mom, Kay, told me.
"They never really did anything like that. He played offense, defense, punter, and kicker. He was always the big kid, even playing a little town football, he didn't want to hurt the boys," Hearn's parents said.
So the lumbering 12-yard run just happened? Dumb luck, perhaps.
Taylor Hearn said earlier in the week that, in fact, it was not the first time he had carried the ball in a football game. "I was the kicker in high school and one time the center snapped it over the head of the holder and it went right to me. I caught it and ran for a couple of yards, but that was it.”
But Hearn looked so natural with the ball: it was tucked away, his shoulder pads were level. "Oh, he'll square up with you. He'll go head on with a freight train," his father Roger stated. "The knowledge he has of the game is incredible. He knows the game."
Hearn's knowledge of the game and his demeanor about sports has always been something that his mom recognized. "He's never gotten excited or nervous. He'd lay up in the house and take a nap before games on Friday night. He's always just said, 'I've got this.'"
I asked his parents to walk me through the play as it unfolded. "I told Kay, there goes your son down the sideline."
Taylor's mom wasn't sure what to think. "I was just holding my mouth making sure he was gonna get up. Making sure he wasn't hurt. Then I started laughing."
At one point during the run, Hearn's father thought, "If he gets a block on this one, he can tote that sucker back to the house." I don't think his dad was alone. You could feel the fans in Death Valley hoping to see the top play on SportsCenter.
However, Hearn didn't quite make it to the end zone, but he looked good trying. In fact, Hearn's run was the longest by a Clemson offensive lineman since All-American Clemson guard Harry Olszewski had a 12-yard run for a touchdown against South Carolina in 1966. "I just wish he could have gone a little further and set a record," Kay noted.
Fans watching couldn't help but notice Hearn running off the field after the play. "He was tired and laughing. Dabo and them were laughing with him and stuff. Just cherishing the moment," his parents said.
Soon after the play ended, their phone started buzzing with texts from friends and family members watching the game back home. "All our friends blew our phone up. They just blew our phone up! Everyone was laughing."
Following Clemson's 34-7 win over Boston College, the Hearn family met after the game. Roger told his son, "You looked like a little fullback coming around that corner," and the two shared a laugh.
"Taylor is very limited to what he says. He doesn't boast, he doesn't brag. He doesn't say a whole lot. If I ask him, 'What's your gut feeling?' 'I got this dad.' "That's his famous words. It doesn't matter if he's in the state championship or the national championship, 'I got this dad.'"
Hearn did kick extra points and field goals at Williston-Elko High School. I've seen videos from after Clemson practices where Hearn knocks one through the uprights.
Running back one week. Kicker the next?
I asked about Clemson's kicking situation and if needed in a pinch, could Taylor knock through a game-winner in Blacksburg.
His father, Roger, told me, "You'll hear those famous words, 'I've got this dad.'"