Phil Taylor (American football)

Phillip Eugene Taylor Sr. (born April 7, 1988) is a former American football nose tackle. He was drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Penn State and Baylor.

Phil Taylor
Taylor with the Cleveland Browns in 2015
No. 98, 97, 99
Position:Nose tackle
Personal information
Born: (1988-04-07) April 7, 1988
Clinton, Maryland
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:320 lb (145 kg)
Career information
High school:Gwynn Park
(Brandywine, Maryland)
College:Baylor
NFL Draft:2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:109
Sacks:7.0
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at NFL.com

High school career

A native of Clinton, Maryland, Taylor attended Gwynn Park High School, where he was a two-way lineman for head coach Dan Hayes. In his junior year, he was credited with 30 pancake blocks along offensive line. As a senior, he registered 77 tackles with 10 sacks, earning first-team all-state and Washington Post first-team all-metro honors.[1]

Regarded as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Taylor was ranked as the No. 11 defensive tackle in the nation, in a class highlighted by Gerald McCoy and Al Woods.[2] Taylor took official visits to Maryland and Penn State only, despite also holding offers by Florida, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech, among others. In January 2006, Taylor committed to Penn State.

College career

After sitting out the first half of his true freshman year at Penn State, Taylor made his collegiate debut against Michigan and went on to play the season's final seven games for the Nittany Lions. In his sophomore year, he sustained a knee injury during preseason drills but still managed to play 12 games on the season, starting the Nittany Lions' final five games. He was credited with 20 tackles, 12 solo efforts, with 6.5 tackles for loss resulting in loss of 26 yards. He also tallied 3.0 sacks, good for loss of 18 yards, and recovered two fumbles. His finale game for Penn State came at the Alamo Bowl against Texas A&M with five-tackle performance that included one tackle for loss.

In October 2007, Taylor was among several Nittany Lions involved in a brawl during a fraternity party at HUB–Robeson Center. He pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct misdemeanor, and was put on probation by Joe Paterno. In the summer of 2008, Taylor and Chris Baker were involved in a minor pool party fracas, which resulted in both being ejected from the team.[3][4] Taylor eventually transferred to Baylor in September 2008 and sat out the season in compliance with NCAA Division I transfer policy.

As a junior in 2009, Taylor earned his first Baylor letter, playing all 12 games and started nine. For the season, he totaled 25 tackles (2.5 for loss), an assisted sack, five QB hurries, two blocked kicks and one interception, despite battling a “turf toe” injury through the middle portion of the season. In May 2010, Taylor spent two weeks in Nairobi on a sports mission trip to Kenya with other Baylor athletes.[5] He entered his senior year having shed almost 30 pounds, and started all 13 games at nose guard. He totaled 62 tackles (35 solo)—the most by a Baylor interior lineman since Ethan Kelley in 2002—, seven for loss including two sacks, three QB hurries, two pass breakups and one forced fumble. In his final college career game, the Texas Bowl against Illinois, Taylor had a career-high 10 tackles.

Professional career
Taylor in 2011.

For his physical abilities, Taylor was projected a safe first-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.[6] He was drafted 21st overall by the Cleveland Browns.[7] Taylor was the highest-selected Baylor defensive tackle since Daryl Gardener in 1996.

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3 in
(1.91 m)		 334 lb
(151 kg)		 34 in
(0.86 m)		 10 3⁄4 in
(0.27 m)		 5.14 s 4.77 s 7.75 s 29 1⁄2 in
(0.75 m)		 31 reps
All values from 2011 NFL Scouting Combine.

Cleveland Browns

After a four-day holdout, Taylor signed a four-year contract worth $8.1 million.[8] During his rookie season, Taylor started every game and finished the season with 59 tackles, 4 sacks, and a forced fumble. Taylor was a major standout in his rookie season, outperforming higher picks of the same position such as Nick Fairley and Corey Liuget.

In 2011, Taylor enjoyed his best season where he had 59 tackles and four sacks.[9]

Taylor (right) and Chris Ogbonnaya in 2014.

Taylor was also selected to the Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie team of 2011, with teammate Jabaal Sheard.[10]

On September 1, 2015, the Browns released Taylor.[11]

Taylor started 42 games for the Cleveland Browns, posting seven sacks and 69 tackles.[12]

Denver Broncos

On February 22, 2016, Taylor signed with the Denver Broncos.[12][9] On July 31, 2016 Taylor was placed on Injured reserve due to a knee injury suffered in training camp.[13] He was released on August 10, 2016.[14]

Washington Redskins

On January 6, 2017, Taylor signed a one-year contract with the Washington Redskins.[15] In the Redskins' third preseason game, Taylor suffered a torn quad that would keep him out for the entire 2017 season.[16] He was officially place on injured reserve on September 2, 2017.[17]

On April 3, 2018, Taylor re-signed with the Redskins.[18] He was released prior to the 2018 regular season on September 1.[19]

On March 13, 2019, Taylor announced his retirement from the NFL.[20]

NFL statistics
YearTeamGPCOMBTOTALASTSACKFFFRFR YDSINTYDSAVGLNGTDPD
2011CLE 165937224.0100000001
2012CLE 8141221.0010000000
2013CLE 152614122.0000000001
2014CLE 510640.0000000001
Career4410969407.0110000003

[21]

References
  1. "Fall 2005 High School All-Met". Washington Post. 2005.
  2. "Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - Rivals.com Defensive tackles 2006". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  3. "Troubled at Penn State, Taylor thrives at Baylor". Philadelphia Inquirer. January 27, 2011.
  4. "Former Gwynn Park lineman to transfer from Penn St". Maryland Community News. August 7, 2008.
  5. "Mission trip to Kenya inspires Baylor's Phil Taylor". Dallas Morning-News. December 27, 2010.
  6. "NFL draft expert: Baylor's Phil Taylor will be selected between picks 21 and 32". Dallas Morning-News. March 29, 2011.
  7. "2011 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  8. "Top pick Phil Taylor signs four-year deal: Browns Insider". Cleveland Plain Dealer. August 2, 2011.
  9. "Denver Broncos sign defensive lineman Phil Taylor". NFL.com. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  10. "2011 All-Rookie team". Pro Football Weekly. January 18, 2012. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
  11. "Cleveland Browns release Phil Taylor". NFL.com. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  12. "Broncos add DT Phil Taylor and TE Richard Gordon". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  13. "Broncos place NT Phil Taylor on injured reserve; sign DE Billy Winn". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  14. Jhabvala, Nicki (August 10, 2016). "Broncos cut DL Phil Taylor from injured reserve". DenverPost.com. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  15. "01/05: Redskins Make Roster Moves". Redskins.com. January 6, 2017.
  16. Czarda, Stephen (August 29, 2017). "Redskins Defensive Lineman Phil Taylor Sr. Out For Season With Torn Quad Tendon". Redskins.com.
  17. "9/2: Redskins Make Roster Moves". Redskins.com. September 2, 2017. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017.
  18. Czarda, Stephen (April 3, 2018). "Redskins Re-Sign Defensive Lineman Phil Taylor Sr". Redskins.com.
  19. "9/1: Redskins Make Roster Moves". Redskins.com. September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  20. Crabtree, Curtis (March 13, 2019). "Former Browns first-round pick Phil Taylor announces retirement". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  21. "Phil Taylor Stats". ESPN. ESPN. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
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