Logan Taylor had said aloha to football last November, secure in the understanding that he had given the sport everything he had, including a college career spanning a total of seven season at three different schools and multiple injuries.
So why, then, was Taylor on the field in his team-issued University of Hawai‘i gear when the Rainbow Warriors kicked off spring practices on Monday?
A recent ruling in December allowed Vanderbilt star quarterback Diego Pavia to come back for an additional season in 2025 although he had exhausted all four seasons of his NCAA eligibility. Pavia had previously sued the NCAA, alleging that his status as a former junior college athlete limited his potential name, image, and likeness (NIL) earnings.
After Pavia received his verdict, thousands of athletes across the country were under the impression that their JUCO years did not count towards their NCAA eligibility. Taylor, who played at El Camino College in California in 2019, fits the criteria. Although Taylor has to make his own appeal to the NCAA, the precedent Pavia set has enabled a bevy of college athletes to try and come back for another year or two.
In other words, Taylor is saying aloha to football all over again this week.
"I was blessed to be able to have played a year at my old junior college," Taylor told Aloha State Daily. "My coaches reached out to see if I wanted to play (again), and I'm like, 'Yeah.' After seeking counsel, after praying, we felt the Lord would call me back, and it's for a different role. I feel like I'm more here as a missionary. I'm just blessed to be here. I'm just blessed to be back again."
Taylor, a linebacker, was Hawai‘i's leading tackler in 2022 and a team captain in 2023 and 2024. He's not sure specifically when the NCAA will approve or deny his appeal, but his coaches say the value of his mere presence is immeasurable to the team.
"Logan's leadership has helped mold others into leaders themselves," UH associate head coach and linebackers coach Chris Brown said. "His presence is huge with the young guys. He's like that NFL veteran QB that is there to mentor younger players. He brings a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that is huge in the success of the team. He will be big in rotation with our linebackers. I'm so happy to get him back. I wasn't ready to let him go just yet. That's my lion and he deserves to win."
As some members of the team were yawning through warm-ups prior to practice on Monday, Taylor was the one motivating his teammates to wake up. During a drill in which linebackers were competing against running backs on Wednesday, Taylor was giving pointers to other linebackers and encouraging the running backs, praising their technique under new offensive coordinator Anthony Arceneaux.
Throughout the duration of his UH career, Taylor has not been shy about his Christianity, leading the team in prayers and mentioning his beliefs often in media interviews. When asked what he would be doing this week if his football career were behind him, Taylor says he'd be in the beginning stages of his ministry career.
"I'm gonna end up living here. This is where I want to raise my kids," said Taylor, a native of Southern California. "When I was done, I was about to go into full-time ministry. I was going to be a campus missionary, so I was going to be around, and it's funny, because it's like what I'm doing right now. But it's just funny, because it's the same thing I'm doing here right now, even while I'm playing, so nothing's really changed. Man, I'm just still in the same spot."
As he prepares for a potential eighth year of college football, Taylor may be excused from practices soon. His wife, Theresa, is expecting the family's first daughter any day now. They've already decided to name her Honey Grace, joining her two brothers, Kobe King and Vader Ali‘i.
"Super blessed, man. She'll probably be born this week or early next week. So, yeah, I'm on standby," Taylor said. "I got my phone out here with me. Whatever my wife needs. I'm so blessed to have coaches that let me put my family first, so if I got to stay with her, my family comes first."
There's been lots to celebrate for Taylor, who recently turned 25. Regardless of where he is on a given day, he considers each moment a blessing.
"I'm out here regardless, man. And the best thing about it is, I got faith that God is gonna take me wherever he has called me to be. So if it's here, this is where he's called me to be," Taylor said. "And if it's not, then I trust God's plan for my life. So either way, I'm out here. As long as they're letting me practice, I'm at practice. This is just playing the kids game, having fun, being a little violent. There's nothing like it."
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
