Terrance Taylor

DT · Michigan
A three-year starter at nose guard, Taylor's squat, thick frame resembles a fire hydrant, but he attacks blockers like a runaway fire truck. Taylor delivered one of the best performances in the weight room at the 2009 NFL Combine, recording 37 repetitions bench-pressing 225 pounds. Strength has always been his biggest asset. He set Michigan prep records with a 500-pound bench press, 680-pound squat and a 670-pound dead lift. At Muskegon High, Taylor earned EA Sports All-American and Class A Player of the Year in Michigan honors from the Detroit Free Press. He was an All-State pick and a member of The Detroit News Dream Team at defensive tackle as a junior and senior. He added All-Conference, All-Area and All-State honors his senior year, as he was rated the third-best player in the state by The Detroit News and the nation's sixth-best defensive tackle by Tom Lemming. Taylor was ranked as the third-best player in Michigan by Rivals.com, picking up All-American honors from Super Prep, in addition to being named the nation's sixth-best defensive line prospect on Student Sports Hot 100 recruits list. As a junior, he captured All-Conference, All-State and Grand Rapids Press Dream Team accolades. The four-year starter on both the offensive and defensive line, Taylor recorded 203 tackles during career, including 38 sacks, eight fumble recoveries and one interception. He led Muskegon to a 14-0 record and the state championship as a senior, posting 55 tackles, 20 for loss and added 16 hurries. He also collected 85 tackles and eight sacks in his junior campaign. Taylor was state champion in power lifting as a sophomore, junior and senior. He was the undefeated heavyweight wrestling state champion as a senior and ranked third in the state as a junior. He compiled an 89-6 career record in wrestling, including a 24-0 mark as a senior. He also threw the shot put and discus on the track team. His best shot put was 57 feet and his best discus throw was 161 feet. Taylor enrolled at Michigan in 2005, but saw limited action in nine games, finishing his freshman year with just one solo tackle. He had a stellar 2006 preseason camp, forcing the team to shift Alan Branch out of the nose guard position in favor of the sophomore, who would start 11 contests. He produced 23 tackles (12 solo) that year, including a sack and five stops for losses. In 2007, Taylor captured second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors. He started all 13 games at nose guard, going on to deliver a career-high 55 tackles (28 solos), leading the team's down lineman while becoming the first Michigan defensive tackle to post 50 tackles in a season since Josh Williams in 1997 (53). He also had 8.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including 3.5 sacks while blocking two kicks. The new coaching staff named Taylor team captain for the 2008 season. He was an All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention, starting 12 games at nose guard. He contributed 35 tackles (16 solos), 1.5 sacks, four stops for loss and recovered two fumbles. He also blocked the third kick of his career.

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