Tyrod Taylor
Encyclopedia
Tyrod Taylor is an American football
quarterback
for the Baltimore Ravens
of the National Football League
. He was the starting quarterback
for the Virginia Tech Hokies football
team from the start of the 2008 college football season
until the 2011 Orange Bowl
, the final game of the 2010 college football season
for Virginia Tech.
, Taylor led the team as quarterback, while also becoming the team's kick returner and safety. During his three years as starter, he led the team to a 34-4 record. He accumulated 7,690 yards of offense and scored 100 total touchdowns. He passed for 5,144 yards and 44 touchdowns, while rushing for 2,546 yards and 56 scores.
When Tyrod graduated from Hampton in 2007, he was rated as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback at Rivals.com. ESPN.com
rated him the No. 3 overall quarterback, while Scout.com said he's the nation's seventh-best passer. Taylor, who is 6'-1" and 200 pounds, ran a 4.55-second 40 yard dash.
Taylor narrowed his final two choices down to Virginia Tech
and the University of Florida
, and eventually chose to attend Virginia Tech.
Taylor was an honor-roll student throughout his career at Hampton.
.
His first action of college football came in the game against the LSU Tigers
on September 8, 2007. In that game, Taylor completed 7 of 18 passes for 62 yards, rushed for 44 yards on nine attempts including his first collegiate touchdown. After that game, Tyrod was named the starter by head coach Frank Beamer
. In his first collegiate start against Ohio University
, Tyrod threw for 287 yards, adding a rushing touchdown.
One of Taylor's early accolades was rushing for 92 yards and a touchdown as well as passing for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns in leading Virginia Tech to its first victory against Florida State in two decades. The win was the first ever for Frank Beamer against FSU coach Bobby Bowden
.
On October 13, in the second quarter of a game against Duke University
, Taylor suffered a high ankle sprain which forced him to miss two games. Taylor returned in a game at Georgia Tech, but did not start for the rest of the season and rotated time with starter Sean Glennon.
Throughout the season, he accumulated 1,356 total yards, including 927 passing and 429 rushing. He completed 72 of 134 passing attempts, for a completion percentage of 53.7. He scored 11 touchdowns during the year, five passing and six rushing.
, Taylor was intended to be redshirted. After Virginia Tech's loss to East Carolina University
though, his redshirt was taken off due to Tech's need for more offense. Taylor's first appearance of the season came in the second game of the season against Furman, where he rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown. His first sophomore start came in the following week vs. Georgia Tech.
After starting every game of the 2008 season leading up to the Florida State game on October 25, Tyrod suffered a high ankle sprain on the first play of the VT-FSU game. Sean Glennon relieved Taylor at the quarterback position after this setback. While Glennon got the start versus Miami, Taylor split time with Glennon and lead a crucial fourth quarter to make it a two point game 16-14. However, he was sacked in a crucial 4th and 3 with less than two minutes to go. After the loss, Taylor started against Duke. After committing 5 turnovers in the first half, he was pulled from the game and replaced by Sean Glennon. Taylor then started next week at UVA. He performed well including a 73 yard run. He threw 12 for 18 for 137 yards 1 touchdown while rushing 16 times for 137 yards. He then started in the ACC Championship Game
win over Boston College
and was named the ACC Championship Game MVP. On January 1 he led his team to an Orange Bowl victory.
and won 37-14, finishing with a final record of 10-3. After climbing as high as 4th in the rankings, Tech lost back to back games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina, but finished the season ranked 10th in both the AP and USA Today Top 25 polls. Taylor holds a 23-5 career record at Virginia Tech, which is the second most wins of all time for a starting quarterback at Virginia Tech.
at FedExField
and at home to Division I-FCS James Madison
. Taylor was 15-of-22 for 186 yards and two touchdowns, along with 73 yards on the ground, against Boise State, but was unable to respond following a Broncos score with 1:03 remaining. However, Taylor ultimately lead the Hokies to a remarkable turnaround season, winning 11 in a row after the 0-2 start. The 2010 Hokies became the first ACC team to finish with an undefeated 8-0 record in ACC play in 10 years. They became ACC Champions for the 4th time in 7 seasons in the ACC with a 44-33 win over Florida State in the 2010 ACC Championship Game in Charlotte. Taylor finished the regular season as ACC Player of the Year and ACC Championship Game Most Valuable Player.
Taylor participated in the 2011 East-West Shrine Game. He completed four of his five passes for 59 yards.
*Single season school record
^School career record
by the Baltimore Ravens
. He orchestrated the game winning touchdown drive in preseason week 3. He hit Brandon Jones for a 9 yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds remaining. He served as the backup quarterback behind Joe Flacco.
From Atlanta, in his 1st career start (exhibition preseason week 4), Tyrod Taylor left the Ravens’ exhibition finale with a shoulder bruise Thursday night, potentially putting a crimp in the team's quarterback plans. Early tests revealed no separation and the rookie's injury was characterized as a contusion.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was the starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Virginia Tech Hokies football
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
team from the start of the 2008 college football season
2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...
until the 2011 Orange Bowl
2011 Orange Bowl
The 2011 Discover Orange Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Stanford Cardinal on Monday, January 3, 2011, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Stanford defeated Virginia Tech 40–12...
, the final game of the 2010 college football season
2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on Thursday, September 2, 2010. The season progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game on Monday, January 10, 2011.-Rule changes for...
for Virginia Tech.
High school career
At Hampton High SchoolHampton High School (Hampton, Virginia)
Hampton High School is a public secondary school located in Hampton, Virginia. It is the oldest standing high school in Hampton Public Schools. It contains an International Baccalaureate World School with the Diploma Programme.Hampton high is the first high school in the Hampton city high school...
, Taylor led the team as quarterback, while also becoming the team's kick returner and safety. During his three years as starter, he led the team to a 34-4 record. He accumulated 7,690 yards of offense and scored 100 total touchdowns. He passed for 5,144 yards and 44 touchdowns, while rushing for 2,546 yards and 56 scores.
When Tyrod graduated from Hampton in 2007, he was rated as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback at Rivals.com. ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
rated him the No. 3 overall quarterback, while Scout.com said he's the nation's seventh-best passer. Taylor, who is 6'-1" and 200 pounds, ran a 4.55-second 40 yard dash.
Taylor narrowed his final two choices down to Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
and the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and eventually chose to attend Virginia Tech.
Taylor was an honor-roll student throughout his career at Hampton.
Freshman year
During Taylor's freshman year, he shared time for most of the season with the junior quarterback Sean GlennonSean Glennon
Sean Glennon is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent in the National Football League....
.
His first action of college football came in the game against the LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
on September 8, 2007. In that game, Taylor completed 7 of 18 passes for 62 yards, rushed for 44 yards on nine attempts including his first collegiate touchdown. After that game, Tyrod was named the starter by head coach Frank Beamer
Frank Beamer
Frank Beamer is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , a position he has held since 1987. From 1981 to 1986, Beamer served as the head coach at Murray State University...
. In his first collegiate start against Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, Tyrod threw for 287 yards, adding a rushing touchdown.
One of Taylor's early accolades was rushing for 92 yards and a touchdown as well as passing for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns in leading Virginia Tech to its first victory against Florida State in two decades. The win was the first ever for Frank Beamer against FSU coach Bobby Bowden
Bobby Bowden
Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons...
.
On October 13, in the second quarter of a game against Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, Taylor suffered a high ankle sprain which forced him to miss two games. Taylor returned in a game at Georgia Tech, but did not start for the rest of the season and rotated time with starter Sean Glennon.
Throughout the season, he accumulated 1,356 total yards, including 927 passing and 429 rushing. He completed 72 of 134 passing attempts, for a completion percentage of 53.7. He scored 11 touchdowns during the year, five passing and six rushing.
Sophomore year
Coming into the 2008 Season2008 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
The 2008 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represents Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach is Frank Beamer. Prior to the season, the Hokies were expected to be in a rebuilding mode, recovering after the...
, Taylor was intended to be redshirted. After Virginia Tech's loss to East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
though, his redshirt was taken off due to Tech's need for more offense. Taylor's first appearance of the season came in the second game of the season against Furman, where he rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown. His first sophomore start came in the following week vs. Georgia Tech.
After starting every game of the 2008 season leading up to the Florida State game on October 25, Tyrod suffered a high ankle sprain on the first play of the VT-FSU game. Sean Glennon relieved Taylor at the quarterback position after this setback. While Glennon got the start versus Miami, Taylor split time with Glennon and lead a crucial fourth quarter to make it a two point game 16-14. However, he was sacked in a crucial 4th and 3 with less than two minutes to go. After the loss, Taylor started against Duke. After committing 5 turnovers in the first half, he was pulled from the game and replaced by Sean Glennon. Taylor then started next week at UVA. He performed well including a 73 yard run. He threw 12 for 18 for 137 yards 1 touchdown while rushing 16 times for 137 yards. He then started in the ACC Championship Game
2008 ACC Championship Game
The 2008 ACC Championship Game was a college football game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Boston College Eagles. The game, sponsored by Dr. Pepper, was the final regular-season contest of the 2008 college football season for the Atlantic Coast Conference...
win over Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
and was named the ACC Championship Game MVP. On January 1 he led his team to an Orange Bowl victory.
Junior year
During his Junior season, Taylor lead the Hokies to a 9-3 regular season record and a 2nd place finish in the Coastal Division of the ACC. The Hokies played the Tennessee Volunteers in the 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl
The 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Tennessee Volunteers on December 31, 2009, in the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia. Virginia Tech defeated Tennessee 40–12. The game was part of the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
and won 37-14, finishing with a final record of 10-3. After climbing as high as 4th in the rankings, Tech lost back to back games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina, but finished the season ranked 10th in both the AP and USA Today Top 25 polls. Taylor holds a 23-5 career record at Virginia Tech, which is the second most wins of all time for a starting quarterback at Virginia Tech.
Senior year
Taylor's senior season began with two heartbreaking losses to Boise State2010 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2010 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos were led by fifth-year head coach Chris Petersen and played their home games at Bronco Stadium. They entered the 2010 season with winning streaks of 14 games...
at FedExField
FedExField
FedExField is a football stadium located in an unincorporated area near the Capital Beltway in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, near the site of the old Capital Centre . FedExField is the home of the Washington Redskins football team...
and at home to Division I-FCS James Madison
2010 James Madison Dukes football team
The 2010 James Madison Dukes football team represents James Madison University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Dukes were led by 12th year head coach Mickey Matthews in what proved to be a roller-coaster season. The Dukes made college football history when they knocked off...
. Taylor was 15-of-22 for 186 yards and two touchdowns, along with 73 yards on the ground, against Boise State, but was unable to respond following a Broncos score with 1:03 remaining. However, Taylor ultimately lead the Hokies to a remarkable turnaround season, winning 11 in a row after the 0-2 start. The 2010 Hokies became the first ACC team to finish with an undefeated 8-0 record in ACC play in 10 years. They became ACC Champions for the 4th time in 7 seasons in the ACC with a 44-33 win over Florida State in the 2010 ACC Championship Game in Charlotte. Taylor finished the regular season as ACC Player of the Year and ACC Championship Game Most Valuable Player.
Taylor participated in the 2011 East-West Shrine Game. He completed four of his five passes for 59 yards.
College stats
| Year | | G | | GS | | Passing | | Rushing | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comp | Att | Yds | TD | Int | Pct | Eff | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2007 | 11 | 5 | 72 | 134 | 927 | 5 | 3 | 53.7 | 119.7 | 102 | 429 | 4.2 | 6 |
| 2008 | 12 | 10 | 99 | 173 | 1036 | 2 | 7 | 57.2 | 103.3 | 147 | 738 | 5.0 | 7 |
| 2009 | 13 | 13 | 136 | 243 | 2311 | 13 | 5 | 56.0 | 149.4 | 106 | 370 | 3.5 | 5 |
| 2010 | 14 | 14 | 188 | 315 | 2743 | 24* | 5 | 59.7 | 154.8 | 146 | 403 | 2.8 | 5 |
| Career | 50 | 42 | 495 | 865 | 7,017^ | 44 | 20 | 57.2 | 137.5 | 501 | 1,940^ | 3.9 | 23^ |
- Current
*Single season school record
^School career record
Baltimore Ravens
Taylor was drafted in Round 6 with the 180th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
by the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. He orchestrated the game winning touchdown drive in preseason week 3. He hit Brandon Jones for a 9 yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds remaining. He served as the backup quarterback behind Joe Flacco.
From Atlanta, in his 1st career start (exhibition preseason week 4), Tyrod Taylor left the Ravens’ exhibition finale with a shoulder bruise Thursday night, potentially putting a crimp in the team's quarterback plans. Early tests revealed no separation and the rookie's injury was characterized as a contusion.