LA MESA – Seems like Helix High's Trelan Taylor has been a defender ever since he was a little boy.

Union-Tribune Trelan Taylor

Asked to describe the most memorable moment of his life, Taylor was quick to recall a time as a third-grader when he and two older brothers defended their mother from an abusive boyfriend.

Defense, that's Taylor's game.

The 5-foot-10, 173-pound senior safety also catches passes and returns kicks, leaving Helix coach Troy Starr to wonder where this versatile athlete will land in the future.

Defensive secondary is the best bet.

“He has functional speed and football intelligence,” Starr said. “But a lot of colleges want that verifiable (40-yard) time, and that's not his thing. At the same time I know Florida has a couple of guys in their secondary who don't have any track times.”

Starr said Taylor excels as a safety in zone coverages.

“He is so good at overlapping the seams as a zone defender,” Starr said.

Starr, a former recruiter for the University of Florida, recognizes the challenges of filling out a college roster. Having been on both sides of the process, he remains convinced Taylor can play Division I football.

“Someone is just going to have to take a shot that Trelan can play at the next level,” Starr said. “The drawback is these college recruiters stick their neck out on the line to take (a player they believe to be a marginal) guy like that. If the kid doesn't work out, the head coach will note he wasn't fast enough. That's what makes recruiting such a tough business.”

Villanova, Texas-El Paso and Sacramento State are among the schools expressing early interest in Taylor, who has nine interceptions and 78 tackles over the past two seasons.

Taylor said Villanova is tracking him closely.

“Villanova is where I'm leaning at the moment,” Taylor said. “They call me every week.”

Taylor is a leader for the three-time Grossmont South League champion Highlanders (8-1-1), who host Grossmont (5-6) at 7 tonight in the San Diego Section Division II quarterfinals.

Levine Toilolo, a tight end and defensive end for Helix who will attend Stanford, called Taylor a ball hawk.

“He will compete for a jump ball with anybody,” Toilolo said. “Against the run he comes up and hits just like another linebacker. He's the complete package who needs to be let loose to play with his instincts.”

Off the field, Taylor enjoys writing.

Taylor said he began authoring poems when he was in middle school and helped a friend compose a musical score a couple of years back.

Although he hasn't kept records, Taylor estimated he's written more than 300 poems.

“It's not like I've kept a diary,” he said. “The poems I write are based on the feeling I have at the moment.”

Taylor isn't sure where his writing will take him.

“I just like expressing my thoughts,” he said.

Opponents are hearing him loud and clear.