Taylor Washington: "Nashville for me is always a family"

NASHVILLE, TN - As Nashville SC continue their preparations for the 2025 MLS season, defender Taylor Washington spoke to the media ahead of Saturday's preseason friendly at Geodis Park and a trip back to Florida.

Washington is entering his eighth year with the club, dating back to Nashville's first professional season in USL. He is the only player from that era to make it to "Nashville 2.0."

Below is a full transcript of the conversation with the 31-year-old fullback.

Will Boling [104.5 The Zone]: How excited are you to get back to Geodis Park?

Taylor Washington: I think Saturday is gonna be really special. We've been working really hard down in Florida, building the foundation and now being back home, building upon that. So it'll be a good test against a new team, Lexington, former guy who's there [Cameron Lancaster]. So it'll be good to see him and I think the boys are buzzing to play.

The last two games we've come out energetic, doing all the things that we've been working on. So it's another opportunity for us to improve and continue to sharpen.

Boling: How much do you feel like your role has changed now under B.J.?

Being a full back is always you're either an outlet or getting up the field, covering a lot of ground. So, in this system, I don't want to give away anything. But to be able to play in behind, we have great guys who are able to run. Jacob [Shaffelburg] and Sam [Surridge] and Hany [Mukhtar], who's in the pocket. So to be able to be used as a versatile attacking threat is going to be great. So for me, it's been a great learning curve. And working with Dan has always been a blessing. So it's just continued sharpening on the little nuances that BJ's instituting. So yeah, I love being a full back.

Jacob Shames [The Tennessean]: As one of the original members of the club, what has it been like seeing the homegrown players?

Washington: I love it, it's really. We were at Currey Ingram [Academy] for so long and I don't know how many of them were there in 2020. But to think when they were born, I think I was in high school, you know, it's like, that's crazy.

But the coolest thing to see is how professional they are, especially Chris [Applewhite], and being the new guy, he's so professional. He's so locked in, you know, great kid, great work ethic. So I'm excited to see how he does this year. And, you know, Isaiah [Jones] and Adem [Sipić] have been coming through the pipeline and growing and building and blossoming. So yeah, it's great to see.

And also it's great to see former players in the academy. I got to play with Alex Herrera, who's one of the coaches [in the Academy] who I played with in college. So, Nashville for me is always a family, I always love seeing more people join.

Valair Shabilla: What are your personal goals for 2025?

Washington: My goals are always the team's goals. I want to win a championship. I've always wanted to win a trophy in USL, we fell short. In Leagues Cup, we fell short.

But we've always been on the cusp of it. And I think [if] we continue to do the things that BJ [Callaghan] is laying the foundation upon, we work together as a unit, we come together, we go out every single day and give everything that we have, we represent Nashville and hopefully bring a trophy in December.