Tayvion Galloway ready to usher in new era of dominance at LSU
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (BVM) – At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Tayvion Galloway brings size and athleticism to whatever sport he plays. In seventh grade, one of those sports became football.
Just a few years later, the four-star tight end has become one of the top prospects in the nation, and is committed to an SEC powerhouse.
Back in seventh grade, it was Galloway’s uncle who introduced him to football. Prior to that, he had primarily been a basketball star.
“It was my uncle who really got me into football,” Galloway said. “The only other sport that I had played was basketball … That was the main sport that I always grew up loving.”
However, during a game in his first year on the gridiron, Galloway made a one-handed catch over the middle of the field. At that moment, he realized football could be his sport. He also relished playing a physical, yet versatile position at tight end.
“What I really just love about that position is the versatility,” Galloway said. “You can do a lot, you can really get physical, and you can go out there on the receiving end … A tight end will definitely help out a good football team a lot.”
Fast forward a couple of years, and Galloway has now become the No. 4-ranked tight end in the Class of 2024, and the No. 84 player overall in his class according to 247Sports. Yet, despite his quick emergence and high ranking, Galloway still strives to get better each day.
“I don’t really think rankings are a big deal,” Galloway said. “To me it’s just a motivator … Whatever I’m ranked, I feel like I gotta work. I feel like, if I’m the fourth tight end in the nation, you have to continue to try to outwork the three guys ahead of you so you can feel like you’re the best and be confident.”
Galloway’s journey has not just been fueled by his hard work or his talent, either. His true motivations come from his family and his faith, and that has allowed him to get to this point.
“To me, family and God is really everything,” Galloway said. “That’s just what I grew up on, that’s what I was raised on. My family, that’s my biggest motivator. That’s what pushes me to do everything that I’ve done so far … I’m extremely blessed.”
That motivation helped Galloway as he transitioned to high school football. Playing his freshman and sophomore seasons at Unioto, the tight end continued to develop on the field, last year going for 192 yards and two touchdowns as he averaged 24 yards per catch. He also played multiple positions on the defensive side of the ball for the Shermans.
“I’ve just been learning and adapting to what it’s like to play in high school,” Galloway said. “I’m an upperclassman now, and I feel like I finally got the grasp of everything … I’ll be ready for my junior year. I’m just really excited to show off my progression this year.”
Galloway’s junior season will take place at Chillicothe High School. He transferred to the Cavaliers from Unioto last year based on Chillicothe’s hire of new football head coach, Scott Bartholomew, among other family-based decisions.
While he already played basketball for the Cavaliers last year, the opportunity to play for the school’s football program this fall is something Galloway relishes.
“I’m really excited with my decision and I’m really blessed to be a part of this Chillicothe football program,” Galloway said. “I’m glad I’m able to be in this position. I think we’re going to go really far this season.”
While Galloway also plans to play basketball again this winter, first comes the football season where the tight end will look to build on some of his best skills including his versatility, speed and ability to go up and get the ball.
Over the next two years, the 6-foot-5 standout believes he can leave a big impact on the Chillicothe program. To do that, he hopes to instill a winning culture that leads to a state championship.
“While I’m at Chillicothe these next two years, I want to add on to the culture and put the light on Chillicothe football,” Galloway said. “Where I’m at and the things I’m doing is not really seen around this area. So I’m just trying to let people know that this is a thing that can happen to whoever puts the work in for it and it’s more reachable than people think.
“I want to bring a state championship to my city, for sure. That’s definitely something I’m trying to do. I’m trying to get everybody on the same page and just get everybody motivated.”
While he still has two seasons at Chillicothe left, this summer, Galloway cemented his future beyond high school by committing to play football at LSU. He joins the nation’s No. 3-ranked recruiting class and the top class as of right now in the SEC.
SEC it just means more. @SEC @DJRSwework @CoachBrianKelly @MikeDenbrock @tanner2chenault @bondedits15 @recruitwave1 pic.twitter.com/hB05kSCE3X
— Tayvion Galloway (@TayvionGalloway) July 23, 2022
“LSU started recruiting me, I got the offer and I started building my connection even more with Coach Denbrock and Coach Kelly,” Galloway said. “As I was learning more about the program, I fell in love with it. Especially when I took my first trip down there, it felt like home and it just felt like God was calling me there.”
Galloway had offers from some other top-notch SEC programs such as Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Tennessee, as well as some more local Big Ten interest from Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Indiana. However, as his recruitment began just over a year ago, it was LSU that firmly set itself apart.
“The thing that set me apart from them was really just the winning culture they have at LSU,” Galloway said. “Even though they have a new coaching staff, the culture of that whole state, everybody down there just breathes and loves football, and I love that.”
Part of Galloway’s decision ultimately came down to his relationship with the coaching staff. Brain Kelly is entering his first season as head coach at LSU, but is an accomplished leader who has won at every stop. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ offensive coordinator, Mike Denbrock, has had a relationship with the four-star tight end since he was recruiting him as part of Luke Fickell’s staff at Cincinnati.
“Coach Denbrock was already recruiting me when he was at Cincinnati,” Galloway said. “Ever since I’ve gotten to know him, he’s just been real genuine and he’s shown that he’ll do a lot for me. That’s the type of coach I want to play for. He shows real love and I really appreciate that.
“And then with Coach Kelly, it’s really just the same way. He’s just a real genuine dude. A lot of people have stuff to say about Coach Kelly, but I don’t listen to any of that. From what I know, he’s a great guy and a great coach. They both know how to use a tight end and I think they can help me get in the position that I want to succeed.”
The Ohio to LSU pipeline doesn’t happen a lot. Prior to Spencer Ware in 2010, it had been around three decades since a player from the state suited up for the Tigers. However, the likes of George Brown, Charles Turner, Corey Kiner and Joe Burrow have all changed that narrative over the last decade.
Now, Galloway joins that group, and has also become one of Chillicothe’s highest-rated recruits in over two decades, following the path of another former tight end in Ben Hartsock who played at Unioto in the late 1990s.
“It’s a really incredible thing,” Galloway said. “Coming from a small town like Chillicothe, Ohio, that’s really not seen a lot. Just the fact that I’m the person to be able to do that is a true blessing.”
With the talent the program already has and a top recruiting class coming in, Galloway’s main goal is to be part of a national championship team while at LSU. He also hopes to shine on the field individually, getting himself ready for the next level.
“I’m trying to win a national championship whenever I get there and I definitely believe that we can do that when I get there,” Galloway said. “I want to be a two-time All-American, I definitely want to get my diploma and graduate college. I just want it to be known that I’m the best tight end in the nation, possibly going into the NFL.”
For most football players across the country, playing in the NFL someday has been a dream since they were very little. For Galloway, that dream has only existed for about a year. His continued growth and emergence not only has him as one of the top prospects in the state of Ohio, or one of the top recruits for a dominant college football program. It has him thinking that playing professional football someday is a possibility, and in a few years, that newfound dream could become reality.
“It’s surprising to a lot of people, but the dream of playing in the NFL, it’s only been with me for about a year,” Galloway said. “Basketball was my main sport and I really wanted to be an NBA guy, but God showed me that I had to take a different route. Having the potential to possibly be one of those guys that could have their name called on draft night … that moment only happens to a few guys in the whole world. Just to know I have that possibility motivates me more to keep working hard.”
