MOBILE | Alphonse Taylor is a rich man. Not in possessions or material wealth, the largest in a family of six children, "Shank" never had much growing up.

What he did have was a big heart and a loving spirit, an ear-to-ear smile, a self-driven determination, and an infectious nature.

Taylor is rich in love.

He is loved by almost any and all he comes into contact with, especially by the staff at Davidson High School in Mobile, where Taylor is beloved. He's one of them. Not only because he comes from where they do, but because he is them.

Taylor, the University of Alabama's starting right guard, carries pieces of Davidson with him everyday because so many there gave so much to him. There is no way to repay all he received, but he wants them to know how much he loves them. It's an affection that goes both ways.

It's not uncommon for star athletes to be adored in their former high schools, and that's certainly the case with Taylor and those who pull for the Warriors. Yet, there is special bond that goes beyond the field that ties them together.

Taylor's story isn't terribly uncommon. He didn't come from a family that could provide him with the better things in life. Sometimes they moved, a large family never with enough room for everyone. Sometimes there wasn't a lot of food. Oftentimes there wasn't money for clothes. Many in his situation slip through the cracks. But Shank didn't.

And the fact that he didn't is a credit to Taylor, who was driven and mature enough to accept the help afforded him, and to Davidson, which spotted a young man who needed a hand and provided one for him. Many hands in fact.

The teachers, counselors and coaches at Davidson, a county school in central Mobile, love Alphonse Taylor. It's not a shy love, rather a loud, bear-hug type of in-your-face loud love that is easy to recognize.

Their story is proof positive that there is kindness that still exists. An abundant kindness that flies under the radar, given by everyday people, who seek no glory for their actions, only to share love and help others.

You don't have to look hard for it. You just have to ask someone to share their story with you.

This is Taylor and Davidson's story.

By the time Taylor was a junior on the Davidson football team he was a well-known prospect. College recruiters noticed him during his first spring practice his freshman year.

That's the thing when you're a big kid. You stick out.

Chris Denney, a Davison assistant coach, remembers those practices when college coaches came by the school and asked about the big guy on the line. They all assumed he was a senior and all had the same response. "Who's that?" Denney recalls many asking.

Several realized even back then that Taylor would likely be a recruit out of their league.

"I remember Georgia Tech saying, 'Oh yeah, we're not going to get him,'" Denney said.

By the time he was a junior all the big boys were after him, Alabama, Auburn and Florida State included.

It was at that time, though, that Taylor had outgrown his situation. Literally.

The family home, a two bedroom apartment, was shared by Taylor, two of his siblings and his mom and stepdad. There just wasn't enough room for him and his growing body. By that time Taylor was well on his way to being the 6-foot-5, 325-pound Division I athlete he is now.

A couple of nights he went to his Denney's house to study. One night Denney asked if Taylor wanted to stay.

"One day I said, 'You want to just go get your stuff?' He went and got his stuff and moved in," Denney said.

They'd known each other since Taylor was in middle school, and even with an 11-year age difference it wasn't as awkward as one might think.

Denney taught Taylor during the day in the classroom, coached him during the afternoons on the practice field and Friday nights during games. Outside of that, though, they never talked about football. They joked, laughed and talked about life.

There were some growing pains, though. The grocery bill went through the roof.

"We were going to the grocery store almost every night," Taylor said. "If we cooked that night we were going to the grocery store. He spent a lot of money on food."

Every Wednesday night they had "Date Night," where Denney and his girlfriend (now his wife) with Taylor in tow had dinner with P.J. and Mary Wright. P.J. was Davidson's defensive coordinator and Mary was the school's academic coordinator. The five would meet at O'Charley's or each others homes.

The Wrights are another part of Taylor's story. He credits Mary for instilling the drive to succeed in the classroom.

"She was one of the main reasons I graduated early and enrolled in January (at UA)," Taylor said. "Actually she's the biggest supporter when it comes to my grades."

The Wrights didn't just help Taylor. The couple also assisted Taylor's teammate, Chris Walker.

He also singles out Patti Prensall, a history teacher.

"Mrs. Presnall was one of the hardest teachers that stayed on me," Taylor said. "She stayed on me about my grades. At one point I wasn't going to take honors classes. She made them put me back in honors classes. She was like, 'He's too smart to not be in honors classes.'"

Taylor is on track to graduate in December and begin a sports management graduate program in the spring.

Denney's home was about 10 to 15 minutes from Taylor's parents house, and Shank saw them everyday. During his two-year stay away from home, Taylor remained close to his family.

Denney and Taylor became family, too. They got some strange looks at times, Denney being white, Taylor black, but they treat the other like blood relation.

"It was weird because it wasn't like Coach Denney was trying to take over parenting me," Taylor said. "It wasn't a "Blind Side" type thing. He was just like an added factor in my life. He helped me in a lot of other ways that my parents couldn't help me. As far as taking me in and giving me shelter. Helped me with food and clothes, that's the kind of person he was for me. I was already at a point where my morals and values were already instilled. He wasn't trying to change that. He was just helping me.

"That's family. He's family. It's so much deeper than just a former high school coach. His parents are like my grandparents. When I introduce them to folks I say, 'These are my grandparents.' Which is crazy because they're white.

"I never thought to ask him why he did it. I honestly, I have no idea. I never really thought to ask him why. I was just always grateful. I just always thank him."

Taylor briefly committed to Florida State before switching to Alabama, which he felt could help in the future with the alumni relationships he could forge in Mobile.

He competed for the starting right guard position in 2014 as a redshirt sophomore and even started two games before eventually losing out to his roommate Leon Brown.

It was a disappointing year for him personally, but he was happy for Brown and he put his feelings aside for the betterment of the team.

"Within myself it was tough losing the job because I was going into my third year and I still hadn't seen playing time," Taylor said. "Like the first two years it was OK because I'm sitting behind All-Americans. So now I feel like it's my time, and I didn't end up winning the job and it was tough.

"At the same time, I'm a team person. It's all about doing what's best for the team."

A year later he was again engaged in a competition for the starting right guard spot with Bradley Bozeman. This time, he won the job.

And Bozeman has been as supportive as any teammate could be to Taylor.

"See that's the thing about offensive linemen," Taylor said. "There isn't a pride factor. There are no egos. Once you step into the o-line room, all egos and all pride goes out the door. The only pride you have is to win as a team and for us to do our job as one.

"So when I beat Bradley out, he didn't take it the wrong way. During the games, every game, we'll come to the sideline and if he sees something he'll let me know."

Alabama's offensive line is one of the strengths of the team this season, especially run blocking, a skill that fits Taylor's size and athleticism.

He's part of the unit that paved the way for Derrick Henry to rush for 148 yards and a touchdown and a SEC Offensive Player of the Week honor for his performance against Georgia.

"He's always been a very powerful guy, good run blocker…" UA coach Nick Saban said.

The people back home at Davidson are watching, too. They're cheering the hometown kid who made good even when the odds were stacked against him.

"We're all Alphonse fans here," Davidson principal Lewis Copeland said. "We keep up with him. We watch No. 50. When I go to the games, I look up to see if 50 is still there. He's done a great job, and we're proud of him."

Taylor's watching too. He makes sure to go by the school every time he's back in Mobile. He can't thank them enough. He wants them all to know how much he loves them.

"I know you've heard the saying "It takes a village to raise a child," that's pretty much my situation, that's how it was at Davidson," Taylor said. "Although I stayed with Coach Denney, everybody there was a big support system for me. I love them all. I'll never forget them."

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.