Former Titans scout Blaise Taylor was sentenced Wednesday to consecutive life terms, meaning he will spend the rest of his life in prison twice over after being convicted of poisoning his girlfriend, Jade Benning, and their unborn child on July 1.
The sentencing came after more than 80 people sent in letters supporting Taylor’s character, an effort Nashville assistant district attorney Jan Norman addressed in court.
“Your honor, the defense just submitted 87 letters all speaking to Mr. Taylor’s character,” Norman said, via Alicia Patton of WKRN.com.
“They describe a man of honor, honesty, a man of great accomplishments and as someone who has faith in the Lord and was raised by a strong family. More than one of the authors of those letters actually stated he is someone they would want their own daughters to marry.
The person described in these character letters, the authors themselves, not one mentioned Jade Benning, not one of them mentioned baby Ivy, and not one single letter out of the 87 letters mentioned anything about what Blaise Taylor did.”
Taylor’s attorney, Letitia Quinones-Hollins, said the defense was not surprised by the ruling.
“We are extremely disappointed but not surprised by the harsh sentence,” Quinones-Hollins said. “This was a flawed trial of a tenuous case, and we will appeal and look forward to doing so.”
At this point, an appeal is Taylor’s only real path forward. He can either try to get a new trial or seek to have the charges wiped out altogether, or remain in prison for the rest of his life.
For now, Tennessee’s position stands: Taylor committed murder of his girlfriend and their child, and did so in a particularly heinous way. It will be up to Quinones-Hollins to show that mistakes were made at trial severe enough to change that outcome.
In Other News...
ASU Heads To Kansas With Real Offensive Questions Up Front
Arizona State heads into its next Big 12 matchup with some real questions up front, and the first availability report only sharpened the concern. The Sun Devils were listed with 12 players on the injury report, part of a combined 21 across both teams, as Kansas also dealt with a lengthy list that included nine names of its own. For ASU, the biggest hit so far is offensive lineman Wade Helton, who is expected to miss a few weeks after suffering a lower leg injury.
The timing adds another layer, because this is all unfolding with the teams set to meet in London on Sept. 19. Arizona State would prefer to get healthier before making that trip, especially with the line depth already being tested, while Kansas is monitoring linebacker Bam Crouch, who is questionable with a shoulder injury. The early report does not decide anything, but it does offer a first look at a game that may hinge as much on who is available as on who is ready. [Read more 🡒]
ASUs First Big 12 Road Slate Looks Brutal For Sun Devil Fans
Arizona State fans finally got a first look at the 2026-27 mens basketball schedule, and the road portion jumps out immediately. The Sun Devils are staring at a Big 12 slate that includes trips to some of the leagues toughest arenas, along with rivalry games that should carry plenty of weight no matter where the teams sit in the standings. It is the kind of schedule that can make a season feel bigger, but also a lot more demanding, especially for a fan base already bracing for long nights away from home.
Back in Tempe, there is at least a little to look forward to beyond the travel grind. Arizona State has also opened season-ticket and group-ticket sales for the upcoming year, with premium seating and other benefits available at Desert Financial Arena. For supporters trying to map out the season now, the early pitch is clear: the home atmosphere will matter, because the road path looks like one that could test the Sun Devils from start to finish. [Read more 🡒]
ASUs Wembley Trip Will Showcase Sun Devil Culture In A New Way
Arizona States trip to Wembley Stadium for its Big 12 matchup with Kansas will be more than a game day stopover, it will be a showcase for Sun Devil culture in front of a new audience. The university is making it easier for its London students to be part of the scene too, offering free tickets so they can see American college football up close and experience the kind of atmosphere that usually defines Saturdays in Tempe.
For many of those students, the draw is not just the matchup itself but the full ritual around it, from tailgates and marching bands to mascots and the pageantry that comes with college football. Several have already said they are eager to learn what the sport means on this side of the Atlantic, and Wembley gives Arizona State a chance to present its identity in a setting that feels a long way from home. [Read more 🡒]