Ryan Taylor (American football)

Taylor attended Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and played on all sides of the ball.[1] During his time on the team, he was a two time all-conference selection and went 12-2 in his sophomore season, making it into the state championship.[1] As a senior, Taylor broke the single season records with 64 receptions that went for 1,180 yards and had 13 touchdowns. On top of that, he rushed the ball 13 times for 85 yards and an additional three scores.[1] On special teams, he returned nine kicks and 16 punts for 177 and 116 yards respectively. Coming out of high school, Taylor received scholarship offers for lacrosse at the University of Virginia, but turned them down to play for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Rivals.com ranked him as the 47th best tight end in the country and he was considered the 21st best player in the state of North Carolina; he was also a member of the state's Shrine Team.[1]

Taylor played four seasons at North Carolina and departed as a redshirt senior. His role for the Tar Heels was limited to special teams during his first year. He was one of four true freshman to see playing time. Playing special teams he had four tackles, two solo stops and two assists.[2][1] He again continued to play primarily on special teams during his sophomore season. He had five tackles, and in a game against James Madison University recovered a blocked punt.[1] Taylor began to have a bigger role in his junior season, and was named as a special teams captain.[1] He played in all thirteen games and had 19 tackles, the majority of which were on special teams, but the others as a backup linebacker. During a game against NC State, he played on all three sides of the ball as a Tight End, Linebacker, and on special teams.[2] In 2009, he was redshirted after injuring his knee in camp.[1] In his final year with the Tar heels, he again played on all the sides of the ball and was the special teams captain for the second time in his career.[2] After the loss of starting tight end Zack Pianalto, he took over as the starter and went on to break the school record for receptions as a tight end with 36, two of those for touchdowns.[2]

Taylor was considered to be a possible H-back candidate in the National Football League.[4] Scouts stated that he had "solid hands" and "snatches low and high throws with equal aplomb".[4] They also stated that he was quick on his routes and could separate linebackers from the inside or outside.[4] For his negatives they stated that he only had "average" size for his position and did not possess the strength to be an inside linebacker.[4] They also stated that he could not separate with the speed of NFL linebackers.[4]

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