Alief Taylor's Dillian Whiteside
Yet, last season tested the Lions in ways they hadn’t anticipated. Their debut year in the competitive District 20-6A brought fresh challenges and unfamiliar opponents like Fulshear, Foster, and George Ranch—programs that ultimately pushed Taylor to a last-place finish.
But to Whiteside, these setbacks aren’t going to be seen as roadblocks; they’ll be used as reference points.
2025-25 Alief Taylor FootballJamey Wright (VYPE)
“We’re going to need more team chemistry,” he said. “There were a lot of close games that came down to the wire and just didn’t go our way. The talent is there for us, but we can’t get to the point where one mistake could ruin our chances.”
That kind of insight doesn’t come overnight. For Whiteside, perspective has been his biggest area of growth.
“As a freshman, you assume you have all the time in the world,” he reflected. “But it passes by so much quicker than you’d think. I’ve become more mature, more vocal as a leader, and just have a stronger mindset on who I want to be.”
That mindset has already begun to open doors. Whiteside holds an offer from Lamar University, with others likely on the way if he continues his upward trajectory. His steady development, he says, stems from relentless dedication and self-awareness.
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“Nothing comes for free,” he said. “It’s taken plenty of training and dedication to get me where I want to be. Size has never been an issue for me, so the mindset has always been to keep my head down and stick to the craft.”
Whiteside models his game after NFL greats like Joe Thomas and Zack Martin. If he had his pick of NIL sponsorships, he says it’d be Nike—a fitting choice, given their partnership with Alief Taylor. Off the field, he carries an artistic streak: he plays trumpet, a passion few might expect from someone who spends his Fridays moving defenders against their will.
As Taylor aims to flip the script this season, Whiteside’s presence gives the Lions more than just a fighting chance. He gives them an anchor.
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