By MATT VAUTOUR
BOSTON — Saturday’s game isn’t quite a homecoming for Amherst native Taj-Amir Torres. Sure the Boston College sophomore cornerback is facing UMass, a school not far from where he grew up, but the Minutemen are hosting Torres’ Eagles in Foxborough.
He’s actually closer in Chestnut Hill to Gillette Stadium than the Minutemen are in Amherst.
But Torres, who was recruited by the Minutemen and got to know several players and coaches from being nearby, was looking forward to the noon meeting.
“I’m excited to play every game, but UMass is going to be fun,” he said. “It’ll be nice to see those guys and I’m from Amherst so it’s going to be fun to play those guys.”
While the Eagles won’t be playing up the road from where the speedy defensive back grew up, they will be playing in the home stadium of the New England Patriots. As a lifelong Pats fan, Torres was excited.
“I never got to play at Gillette (in high school) so it’s going to be a great experience just to see,” he said. “I’m looking forward to coming out and playing where the Patriots play.”
While he paid close attention to standout defensive backs Ty Law and Asante Samuel, Torres looked surprised that it was even a question who his favorite Patriot was.
“Tom Brady,” he said emphatically.
Torres is so much of a fan of the Patriots QB, that his Twitter bio (@TooQuickHaz) simply reads “Free Tom Brady / Boston College Football.” He’ll play a game on Gillette before Brady this season.
Torres, a secondary education major, is second on BC’s depth chart at one cornerback spot. He’ll see action on passing downs and on special teams.
In addition to being a standout football player in high school, he was a three-time state 100-meter champion. In his senior year he won the New England Championship and the state 200 meters as well, which helped him earn the Massachusetts Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year award.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage