Wednesday was another big day in the phenomenal high school career of Warren County senior C.J. Taylor. 

After considering several college offers, C.J. signed with Vanderbilt University in the Dalt. It was a milestone C.J. shared with family, coaches and friends. His mother was by his side, and his late brother, Dominque was there in spirit.

C.J. wanted his brother’s name written with the names of the people who were at the table beside him during the signing. C.J. expressed his feelings about his brother, Dominque, who was 18 when he passed away tragically in a car accident on Sept. 1, which is why C.J. wore No. 1 in football. 

C.J. said, “He’s my big brother ... what happened was devastating and I remember telling him when I was little that I was gonna make it to the NFL. And I’m on track to making that happen. I’m just trying to do right by him.”

Brandy Pinegar, C.J.’s mother, was very excited to see C.J. sign with Vanderbilt University. She was asked when she first realized C.J. may go to college on an athletic scholarship. Brandy said, “When he was little, when he was 5 or 6. He’s got skills. Lots of skills. I am very blessed for him to be my son.”

Many local debates have taken place about the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) in Warren County Pioneer football history, but no one has ascended to the high level C.J. has reached. 

C.J. has been named Mr. Football, All-State, and Region MVP. There are many outstanding statistics and accomplishments on his resume. The debate is over. C.J. Taylor is the GOAT. 

Vanderbilt head football coach Clark Lea is excited to have C.J. Taylor coming to his football team. On Wednesday, coach Lea said, “C.J. is a dynamic athlete and competitor who has a diverse set of skills. We are excited about him; he is coming from right down the road. He is a competitor who will come in and compete for a position.”

C.J. had a big entourage with him for the signing ceremony. Warren County Schools streamed the signing live and it is recorded on the school system’s YouTube channel. A link to the video is on the Southern Standard Newspaper Facebook page.

C.J.’s Pioneer head football coach of the past two years had words of gratitude to share after the signing ceremony. Coach Matt Turner spoke directly to C.J. in saying, “C.J. you mean the world to me. There is always a coach’s first player … coaches coach an entire lifetime and never coach a player of your caliber who possess that ‘it’ factor. You are always embedded in my heart and no one can take that away. You have a space in my heart that is always there.”