In a previous life, Auggie Sanchez was a disillusioned USF fullback pondering a transfer.
Willie Taggart talked him into staying, obliging his desire to move to defense. A half-decade and 388 tackles later, Taggart is trying to help shape the trajectory of Sanchez's career yet again.
As a coach.
Sanchez recently confirmed via Instagram that he has joined Taggart's inaugural FSU staff as a graduate assistant. Sanchez, who exited USF last season as the program's career tackles leader, has been accepted into FSU's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
"That's pretty cool as a coach, to be able to bring a guy that you recruited and bring him along," Taggart said Thursday at the ACC kickoff in Charlotte, N.C.
"To me, that's what coaching's all about, helping young men grow and reach their dreams and goals," Taggart said Thursday at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, N.C.
"Auggie learned a lot there, and he's one of the smartest players we had there, and I knew one day he would be a coach. I told him if he ever thought about it, just look me up no matter I was, and I'd love for him to be a part of our staff."
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Sanchez's arrival in Tallahassee follows a cameo appearance in a New York Giants rookie camp, after he went undrafted this past spring.
"While the door closed on my playing career, I didn't allow myself to dwell on it," Sanchez said on Instagram. "The next door opened and I have been given an amazing opportunity to be a graduate assistant at (FSU) and start my coaching career."