Davion Taylor

Davion Taylor
refer to caption
Taylor with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2024
No. 43 – Ottawa Redblacks
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1998-08-05) August 5, 1998 (age 26)
McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:South Pike (Magnolia, Mississippi)
College:
NFL draft:2020 / round: 3 / pick: 103
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:51
Forced fumbles:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Stats at CFL.ca

Davion Taylor (born August 5, 1998) American professional football linebacker for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Early life

Taylor was raised in Magnolia, Mississippi, by his Seventh-day Adventist mother Stephanie Taylor. Taylor attended South Pike High School but did not play high school football due to the religious beliefs of his church.[1][2]

College career

Taylor attended Coahoma Community College before attending the University of Colorado Boulder. After turning 18 he was given permission by his mother to join the football team.[3][4] In 2018, Taylor transferred to Colorado.[5] In 2018, he started 10 of 12 games, recording 57 tackles, one sack and one touchdown.[6] As a senior in 2019, he started all 12 games, recording 72 tackles and one sack.[7]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0+1⁄2 in
(1.84 m) 		228 lb
(103 kg) 		32+1⁄8 in
(0.82 m) 		9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.39 s 1.55 s 2.57 s 4.26 s 6.96 s 36.0 in
(0.91 m)		 10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)		 21 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[8][9]

Philadelphia Eagles

Taylor was drafted by the Eagles in the third round with the 103rd overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft.[10] He was placed on injured reserve on December 9, 2020.[11] He was designated to return from injured reserve on December 30, and began practicing with the team again,[12] but the team did not activate him before the end of the season.

Taylor took on a starting role with the team in Week 6 of the 2021 season, but was placed on injured reserve on November 24 due to a knee injury.[13]

Taylor was released on August 31, 2022, and re-signed to the practice squad.[14][15] On February 15, 2023, Taylor signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles.[16] On August 6, the Eagles released Taylor.[17]

Chicago Bears

On August 17, 2023, Taylor signed with the Chicago Bears.[18] He was waived on August 29, 2023.[19]

Arizona Cardinals

On September 26, 2023, Taylor was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad.[20] He was released on October 10. On December 20, Taylor was re-signed to the Cardinals practice squad.[21] He was not signed to a reserve/future contract after the season, and thus became a free agent upon the expiration of his practice squad contract.[22]

Ottawa Redblacks

Taylor signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on March 18, 2024.[23]

NFL career statistics

Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
G GS Comb Total Ast Sack FF FR Yds TD Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD
2020 PHI 12 1 10 7 3 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021 PHI 9 6 41 24 17 0.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 21 7 51 31 20 0.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0

Personal life

Taylor is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b Goodbread, Chase (April 1, 2020). "Walking by Faith". National Football League. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Domowitch, Paul (April 25, 2020). "Howie Roseman on LB Davion Taylo, the Eagles' third round pick: 'He's got some rocket ship to him'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "'I never gave up trying to play': Why Davion Taylor is one of the most intriguing NFL Draft prospects". The Athletic. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "Colorado linebacker finds balance between football and faith". apnews.com. September 10, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  5. ^ "CU JUCO transfer linebacker Davion Taylor adjusting to life as a Buff". denverpost.com. February 10, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "CU football: Davion Taylor adjusting to role in Buffs' defense". denverpost.com. August 7, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  7. ^ "Explosive LB Davion Taylor Draws Broncos' Attention at CU Buffs' Pro Day". si.com. March 11, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  8. ^ "Davion Taylor Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  9. ^ "2020 NFL Draft Scout Davion Taylor College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  10. ^ "2020 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  11. ^ McPherson, Chris (December 9, 2020). "Eagles promote DT Raequan Williams from the practice squad; place LB Davion Taylor on Injured Reserve". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  12. ^ Gallen, Daniel (December 30, 2020). "Philadelphia Eagles begin practice windows for RG Brandon Brooks, LB Davion Taylor". PennLive.com. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  13. ^ Bowman, Paul (November 24, 2021). "Davion Taylor Lands On IR". SportsTalkPhilly.com.
  14. ^ McPherson, Chris (August 31, 2022). "Eagles claim QB Ian Book off waivers". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  15. ^ McPherson, Chris (September 1, 2022). "Eagles sign LB Davion Taylor to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  16. ^ "Eagles sign 9 players to Reserve/Futures deals". theeagleswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  17. ^ "Eagles sign Josh Andrews". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. August 6, 2023.
  18. ^ "Bears sign LB Davion Taylor, waive LB Buddy Johnson". NBC Sports. August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  19. ^ "Roster Moves: Bears reach NFL's 53-man roster limit". ChicagoBears.com. August 29, 2023.
  20. ^ Urban, Darren (September 26, 2023). "For D-Line Help, Cardinals Move Roy Lopez To Active Roster". AZCardinals.com.
  21. ^ Comeaux, Jonathan (December 20, 2023). "Cardinals Make Three Practice Squad Moves". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  22. ^ Druin, Donnie (January 10, 2024). "Cardinals Sign 12 Players to Future Contracts". Sports Illustrated.
  23. ^ "Davion Taylor". Retrieved May 30, 2024.