Pro path

Calgary signed Taylor as a free agent on Feb. 14, 2011. He signed with the Montreal Alouettes in 2008 and spent two seasons with the club. He signed with the National Football League’s New York Jets on Jan. 7, 2010. He rejoined the Alouettes late in the 2010 season.

2012

Taylor played in 11 regular-season games, the West semifinal, West final and Grey Cup in his second year with the Stamps. Primarily used in the return game, Taylor racked up 887 yards on 84 punt returns and 900 yards on 44 kickoff returns. He added four missed field goal returns for 199 yards including a 125-yard touchdown on July 7 in Toronto. It was the third-longest missed field goal return in team history and earned him a CFL special teams player of the week nod. Taylor's 441 combined yards that game was a club record and the second-highest single-game total in CFL history behind the 474 yards registered by Winnipeg's Albert Johnson III in 2000. He also amassed a total of 222 kickoff-return yards, which placed him second in team history. Taylor was named special teams player of the week for a second time for his performance on Aug. 9 when he returned eight punts for 88 yards and four kickoffs for 84 yards in Calgary’s win in Hamilton. Taylor also saw action on offence, hauling in nine catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns and rushing six times for 32 yards. In post-season play, he totalled 14 punt returns for 72 yards, 17 kickoff returns for 371 yards, one rush for four yards and two catches for 47 yards.

2011

In his first season with the Stampeders, Taylor played in 17 regular season games as well as the West semifinal. Taylor was the primary returner on both kickoffs and punts. He tallied 67 punt returns for 538 yards — both are third best in the CFL — and 43 kickoff returns for 1,008 yards, second most yards in the league. Taylor added six missed field goal returns for 232 yards and one score. Taylor also contributed on offence, both as a receiver and rusher. He recorded 19 receptions for 147 yards and two scores as well as 11 carries for 59 yards. His season total of 1,984 total yards was tied for fourth most in the league. Taylor’s best game came at BC on Oct. 8 when he returned three kickoffs for 126 yards, four punts for 22 yards, and had a 122-yard missed field goal return for a score — the longest play in the CFL during the season and the third longest in Stampeders history — while adding a five-yard reception for 270 total yards. Taylor was also named Special Teams Player of the Week in week 6 of the season and was the Stampeders nominee for most outstanding special teams player.

2010

Taylor attended training camp with the National Football League’s New York Jets, played in four pre-season games and was added to New York’s practice roster on Sept. 7, 2010. He rejoined the Alouettes late in the 2010 season and played in one regular-season game, returning one kickoff for 16 yards and one punt for four yards.

Career highlights

• Made his CFL debut on July 25, 2008, against the BC Lions
• Recorded the longest play during the 2011 CFL season, a 122-yard missed field goal return for a touchdown on Oct. 8 at BC
• Set a club record and notched the second highest single-game total in CFL history with 441 combined yards on July 7, 2012
• Played his 50th career game on July 7, 2012, against Toronto
• Scored his first touchdown on a punt return against Toronto on Sept. 7, 2008
• Named Stampeders nominee for most outstanding special teams player in 2011
• Voted the CFL’s most outstanding special teams player of the year in 2009
• Special teams player of the week for week 6 of the 2011 season
• Special teams player of the week for Weeks 2 and 7 of the 2012 season
• East Division all-star in 2009
• CFL all-star in 2009
• Led CFL with 1,971 combined return yards and three return touchdowns in 2009
• Led CFL in 2009 with 788 return yards
• Returned a missed field goal 113 yards for a touchdown against Winnipeg on Nov. 1, 2009
• Returned a missed field goal for 125 yards for a touchdown in Toronto on July 7, 2012. It was the third-longest in team history
• Had 222 kickoff return yards in Toronto on July 7, 2012, which is the second best in team history
• Played in the 2008 and 2009 Grey Cups and earned a ring in 2009
• Returned two punts for touchdowns against the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2008 East final
• Montreal’s nominee for rookie of the year and best special teams player in 2008

College

Taylor played four seasons with the Connecticut Huskies and scored five return touchdowns during his collegiate career. He had a career average of 12.7 yards on 97 punt returns and scored four touchdowns, while boasting a 26.4-yard average and one touchdown on 39 kickoff returns. He added 63 catches for 574 yards, one touchdown and 122 rushing yards on 14 carries. He is the Big East conference’s all-time leader with 1,228 punt-return yards. He returned a punt for a touchdown in the 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl, his final college contest.

Notable

At Glades Day high school in Belle Glade, Fla., Taylor once had a game in which he scored a touchdown five different ways — rushing, receiving, punt return, kickoff return and interception return. He accumulated at least 100 yards rushing in every game he played for Glades Day and was a finalist for Florida’s Mr. Football award during his senior season.