J. J. Taylor

Joseph Justyn Taylor (born January 4, 1998) is an American football running back, and return specialist who is a free agent. He played college football at Arizona. Taylor is also a professional Rocket League esports player of Team Oxygen.

For the golfer, see Jack Taylor (golfer).

J. J. Taylor
Personal information
Born: (1998-01-04) January 4, 1998
Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
Height:5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:Centennial HS
College:Arizona (2016–2019)
Position:Running back
Undrafted:2020
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Rushing yards:156
Rushing average:3.0
Rushing touchdowns:2
Receptions:6
Receiving yards:20
Return yards:114
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Taylor graduated in 2016 from Centennial High School in Corona, California.After converting from Defensive back to Running back, he was named Mr. Football as state's top offensive player by CalHiSports.com.[1] Also he was named All-Inland First-team. He was recognized as a Blue-Grey All-American. He gained 2,290 yards and 44 touchdowns as a senior. He earned a three-star recruit by Scout.com, Rivals.com and 247 Sports. Taylor had offers from Washington State, Nevada, Ohio, Montana State, Sacramento State and Weber State from the Big Sky Conference as well.[2] Taylor committed to Arizona in 2015.[1][2]

College career

2016 season

He played in four games with one career start before going down with an injury as a true freshman.[3] Taylor rushed for 261 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries, even though he barely played in Arizona's first game of the season against BYU. The best proof came in a two-game stretch where Taylor rushed for a combined 267 yards on 37 carries with two touchdowns, particularly in Arizona's dominant win over Hawaii in Week 3. Taylor was poised for a breakout freshman season before the injury in Pac-12 opener, which occurred during the Wildcats’ fourth game against Washington. He still totaled 97 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown.

2017 season

Taylor, a redshirt freshman from Corona, Calif., played in all 12 games and was the Pac-12's top freshman rusher with 828 yards (6.1 yards/carry), averaged 69.0 yards per game, and added five touchdowns. He rushed for a career-best 153 yards on 14 carries (10.9 avg.) with two touchdowns vs. Washington State.[4] Taylor was a major contributor to Arizona's ground game that averaged 324.4 yards per game (3rd in the FBS) and a school single-season team record 48 rushing touchdowns. Arizona rushed for 300 or more yards seven times, including a pair of 500+ yard games with a UA single-game record 534 yards vs. Oregon State. He was the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.[4]

2018 season

Taylor was put on the Doak Walker Award watch list in July 2018.[4] Against Southern Utah, Taylor returned a kickoff for a touchdown.[5] His redshirt sophomore year finished with 1,434 rushing yards and, 49 receiving yards, and seven total touchdowns.[1]

2019 season

As a redshirted junior in 2019, Taylor finished with 721 rushing yards and five touchdowns. On November 19, 2019, Taylor announced that we would forgo his senior year and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.[2]

College statistics
Season Team Class Rushing Receiving Scrimmage
AttYdsAvgTDRecYdsAvgTDPlaysYdsAvgTD
2016ArizonaFR 382616.922168.00402776.92
2017ArizonaFR 1468475.8512494.121588965.77
2018ArizonaSO 2551,4345.66161338.302711,5675.86
2019ArizonaJR 1487214.95322899.001801,0105.65
Career[6]5873,2635.618624877.926493,7505.820

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 5+1⁄4 in
(1.66 m)		 185 lb
(84 kg)		 28+3⁄4 in
(0.73 m)		 8+1⁄2 in
(0.22 m)		4.61 s4.15 s7.00 s34.5 in
(0.88 m)		9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		19 reps
All values from NFL Combine[1]

Taylor signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2020.[7] On September 5, 2020, he was waived by the team and signed to the practice squad the following day.[8] He was promoted to the active roster on September 7, 2020.[9] Taylor made his professional debut in the Patriots Week one victory over the Miami Dolphins.[10]

On August 30, 2022, Taylor was waived by the Patriots and signed to the practice squad the next day.[11][12] He was promoted to the active roster on November 5.[13] He was waived on November 21 and re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 10, 2023.[14] He was released on August 29, 2023.[15]

NFL career statistics

Regular season
Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2020NE 60231104.8280144.04000
2021NE 5019371.9152482.05011
2022NE 101090.950188400-
Career[16]120481563.02826202.55011

References
  1. "J.J. Taylor Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  2. "J.J. Taylor planning to enter NFL Draft". WildcatAuthority.com. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  3. Kelapire, Ryan (September 15, 2018). "Arizona DE Justin Belknap has broken foot, could be out for season, per reports". Arizona Desert Swarm. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  4. Spears, Justin (July 18, 2018). "Arizona Wildcats RB J.J. Taylor put on Doak Walker Award watch list". Arizona Daily Star. Lee Enterprises. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  5. Christy, Mike (September 15, 2018). "Seen and heard: Game of firsts includes takeaway, sack and a win for Kevin Sumlin". Arizona Daily Star. Lee Enterprises. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  6. "J.J. Taylor". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  7. "Patriots Sign 15 Rookie Free Agents". Patriots.com. May 5, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  8. "J.J. Taylor: Reverts to practice squad". CBSSports.com. September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  9. "Patriots sign two players to the 53-man roster from the practice squad; place two players on injured reserve". Patriots.com. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  10. "J.J. Taylor". www.nfl.com. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  11. "Patriots Make Roster Moves to Reach 53-Man Roster Limit". Patriots.com. August 30, 2022.
  12. "Patriots Sign 15 Players to the Practice Squad". Patriots.com. August 31, 2022.
  13. "Patriots Sign RB J.J. Taylor to the 53-Man Roster from the Practice Squad; Place OL Marcus Cannon on Injured Reserve; Elevate WR Lynn Bowden Jr. and Kody Russey to the Active Roster". Patriots.com. November 5, 2022.
  14. "Patriots sign 11 players to future contracts". Patriots.com. January 10, 2023.
  15. "Patriots Make Roster Moves to Reach the 53-Man Roster Limit". Patriots.com. August 29, 2023.
  16. "J.J. Taylor". NFL.com. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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