Bio

SENIOR (2016): A two-time semifinalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, WKU’s Taywan Taylor has been the most explosive receiver in the country over the past two seasons. Taylor set WKU records in every receiving category over his career on The Hill with the majority of that work coming in 2015 and 2016. A former two-star prospect, Taylor recorded 253 catches for 4,234 yards and 41 touchdowns, all WKU career records. After an explosive 2015 season in which he set all single-season marks, he improved on his play as a senior and topped those marks with 98 catches for 1,730 yards (third-most nationally) and 17 touchdowns (second-most nationally). Taylor was the only receiver in the country with 90 or more catches to average 17 yards or better per catch with the next closest receiver averaging nearly two-yards less per catch. Taylor’s numbers could have been even more staggering had the Hilltoppers not pulled off opponents in the second half as evidenced by his national-best 1,102 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in the first half. A two-time All-Conference USA first team selection, Taylor earned All-American honors from Pro Football Focus in 2015 and midseason honors from the publication in 2016.

JUNIOR (2015): Taylor had the single greatest season by a wide receiver in Hilltopper Football history in 2015, becoming just the second 1,000-yard receiver in program history and setting single-season records for receiving yards (1,467), receptions (86) and touchdown catches (17) while also setting the career record for receiving yards (2,504), 100-yard receiving games (9) and touchdown catches (24). Taylor's 1,467 yards are the second-most in C-USA history while his 17 touchdown receptions are fourth-most. He was a consensus All-Conference USA First Teamer and was named a Second Team All-American by ProFootballFocus.com. The yardage total was No. 3 nationally - tops in C-USA - while his 104.8 yards per game were No. 10 nationally. Taylor had 100 yards or more in eight games, tied for the most in C-USA, including a streak of three straight against Middle Tennessee, North Texas and LSU where he also had a season-high 10 receptions. Taylor's 196 yards on nine receptions at Indiana are the second-most in program history and most since WKU became an FBS program in 2009. Taylor was also No. 3 in the league in touchdowns scored, average 7.3 points per game, despite being the only player in the top five to appear in 14 games. He was the only player in the country to catch a touchdown pass in 11 games - four other players were tied at 10.

SOPHOMORE (2014): Taylor enjoyed a stellar sophomore campaign, starting in seven games and appearing in all 13. He finished second on the team with 767 yards and was third in touchdown receptions with seven. His 45 catches were fourth-most for the Hilltoppers and he led all primary pass catchers with a 17 yard per catch average, the best average among receivers with over 40 receptions in the league. Taylor had 50 yards in seven of 13 games to go along with a pair of 100-yard performances, including a career and team-high 185 yards on 12 catches in the season opener against Bowling Green. The 185 yards were also the sixth-most in a single game in program history. Taylor also led WKU with 13 receptions of 20 yards of more. Of his seven touchdowns, five went for 45 yards or longer including Brandon Doughty's season-long pass of 75 yards to Taylor on a one-play drive at Marshall. Taylor's seven touchdowns also tied for fifth-most in single-season program history.

FRESHMAN (2013): Taylor saw action in 11 games, earning seven starts on the season. Taylor caught 24 passes for 270 yards, second among freshmen wideouts and sixth on the team. He caught a season-high four passes against Kentucky, Navy and ULL and had a season-best 75 yards on three receptions at ULM, which was also a team-best for that contest. Taylor also went back to return punts, serving as the short coverage returner when team's elected to punt away from All-American Antonio Andrews, but he did not return a punt on the season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Taylor led Pleasure Ridge Park High School to a 14-1 season in 2012, catching a team-best 52 passes for 1,169 yards, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the team's receiving yards in his senior season. Taylor and Pleasure Ridge Park advanced to the Class 6A state title game in 2012, losing its only game of the season in the championship. For the year, Taylor found the endzone a team-high 18 times with 14 touchdown receptions, two rushing touchdowns and one interception returned for a touchdown. Taylor also rushed for 72 yards on just 12 carries, averaging six yards per touch on the ground for an offense that averaged more than 44 points per game. Taylor got off to a hot start in his final season in 2012, going over 100 receiving yards in four of the first five games of the year with 10 touchdown receptions during that five-game span. The 6-1, 185-pound wide receiver was also a dynamic kick returner for the Panthers, earning All-District honors from the Greater Louisville Football Coaches Association while also being named Honorable Mention All-State by the Courier-Journal as a wide receiver in 2012.