Aaron Taylor Season 1994

Honors & Awards

• College Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2018)
• Drafted by the Indianapolis Colts (1998 - 7th Round, Pick #190)
• Member of Three Nebraska National Championship Teams (1994, 1995, 1997)
• Outland Trophy Winner (1997)
• Two-Time Lombardi Award Semifinalist (1996, 1997)
• Two-Time First-Team All-American (Walter Camp, Football News, FWAA - 1996; AP, Walter Camp, Football News, FWAA, AFCA, Sporting News - 1997)
• Three-Time First-Team All-Conference (1995, 1996, 1997)
• Touchdown Club of Columbus Offensive Lineman-of-the-Year (1997)
• Team Co-Captain (1997)
• Outland Trophy Semifinalist (1996)
• Second-Team All-American (AP, Sporting News, 1996)
• First-Team All-Big 12 (AP, Coaches, 1996)
• Third-Team All-American (Football News, 1995)
• First-Team All-Big Eight (AP, Football News, 1995)
• Second-Team All-Big Eight (Coaches, 1995)

Career
Aaron Taylor ended a stellar four-year Nebraska career by becoming the first player in Husker history to earn All-America honors at two different positions. As a senior, Taylor earned consensus first-team All-America honors on his way to earning the Outland Trophy. Taylor became the eighth player to win the Outland, beating out teammate Jason Peter and LSU's Alan Faneca. Taylor was also a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award. He is one of only six Husker linemen to earn first-team all-conference honors in three straight seasons.

During his career, the Huskers were 49-2 (.961), winning four bowl games and three national championships. In 1998, his jersey (No. 67) was retired. Following his collegiate career, he was drafted in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He was a member of the Colts and the Chicago Bears practice squad during the 1998 season.

More recently, Taylor was one of six Huskers named to Sports Illustrated's 85-player All-Century Team, joining Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier, Rich Glover, Tommie Frazier and Dean Steinkuhler.

1997 (Senior)
Moving back to his preferred position of left guard, Taylor started every game and led the Huskers to a 13-0 record and the school's third national title in four years, finishing with a then-school record 137 "pancakes" (knock-down blocks), an average of 11.3 a game. He had a career-high 19 in the regular-season showdown against Colorado. Taylor started at left guard in the 1998 Orange Bowl against Tennessee. A co-captain, he helped NU lead the nation in total offense, rushing offense and scoring offense. Taylor became the first Husker to earn first-team All-America honors at two different positions. He was one of two returning All-Americans and a preseason All-American favorite, as well as a front-runner for the Outland Trophy which he would go on to win.

1996 (Junior)
Taylor sacrificed personal goals to make the move from left guard to center his junior season. His explosive talent was well-known, and before having snapped a single ball from center, was named a preseason All-America center by three publications. He went on to earn first-team All-America honors at center, as named by nearly every publication, giving Nebraska back-to-back All-America centers, as Aaron Graham was a first-teamer in 1995. Taylor started every game at center, but also played one of every four series at left or right guard, depending on who needed a rest (approximately 10 plays each game). He did that in all but the first two games. While most of the linemen were getting three series of rest, he took one. He and the other linemen allowed 10 sacks on the season and ranked fourth nationally in scoring, fifth in rushing and 25th in total offense. Taylor had a season-high 17 "pancakes" three times in 1995, and against Texas in 1996. He also had double-figure "pancakes" against Baylor (10), when NU rushed for a season-best 491 yards, Kansas State (13), Oklahoma (11) and Iowa State (15) for a team-best season total of 113 (9.4 per game). An Outland semifinalist, Taylor earned first-team All-America honors from Football News, Football Writers and Walter Camp and was an all-conference first-team pick for the second consecutive year. Taylor started at left guard against Virginia Tech in the 1996 Orange Bowl and Josh Heskew started in his place at center.

1995 (Sophomore)
Taylor moved into a starting role in 1995, taking over for departed senior Joel Wilks at left guard. Starting all 12 games, Taylor was the Huskers' "pancake" leader, as he tallied 128 on the season, including a season-best and team-best 17, three times, against Michigan State, Arizona State and Oklahoma. He averaged 11.64 per game and had double-figure knock-downs six times, including 10 against Oklahoma State, 15 against Washington State and 12 against Colorado. Taylor and three other first-time starters on the offensive line, helped the Huskers average 60 yards more per game than Nebraska’s nation-leading 340.0 in 1994. He also aided NU to a No. 2 national ranking in total offense (556.3) and a Big Eight and school-record 52.4 points per game, a mark which had stood in the books since 1983. Taylor started at left guard in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl against Florida. He was a third-team All-American from Football News and earned first-team All-Big Eight honors from the AP and Football News and was a second-team honoree by the league coaches. In 1995, Taylor's name was added to the prestigious honors platform, as he scored 500 points or better on all six tests. He was a finalist for the Husker Lifter-of-the-Year Award.

1994 (Freshman)
As a redshirt freshman in 1994, Taylor played in every game and was a member of NU's PAT and field goal units. Taylor served as a reserve at left guard and became a permanent member of the 60-man NU travel roster when Steve Ott broke his foot against Kansas State. Taylor helped the Huskers rank in the top 10 nationally in rushing, total offense and scoring and aided the Huskers to the NCAA rushing title as NU averaged 340.0 yards per outing. Taylor played in the 1995 FedEx Orange Bowl against Miami.

1993 (Redshirt)
A scholarship athlete, Taylor redshirted his first year at NU.

Before Nebraska (Rider High School)
A three-year started at Rider High in Wichita Falls, Texas, for Coach Wayne LeBleu, Taylor was a first-team all-state pick as an offensive lineman and second-team all-district as a punter. He also played fullback and nose guard. He averaged 40.7 yards per punt in 1992 and rushed for two touchdowns and one two-point conversion in short-yardage, goal-line situations. The Raiders went 5-5 in 1992 and made the Class 5A (largest) playoffs his last two years. At Rider, Taylor was a teammate of former Husker defensive tackle Scott Saltsman (1993-96). Taylor grew up in Germany and did not play football until his freshman year, but became a starter as a sophomore. He also qualified for regionals his senior year in the shot put with a best throw of 56-10.

Personal
The son of Wayne and Deanna Taylor, Aaron was born on Jan. 21, 1975. Taylor assisted with the Pacific Pals Youth Camp during his senior summer.

Taylor's Career Statistics
Games Played/Started -- 50/37 (includes bowl games)
1995 "Pancakes" (Knock-down Blocks) -- 128 (11.64 Average)
1996 "Pancakes" - 113 (9.4)
1997 "Pancakes" - 137 (11.3)
"Pancake" Best -- 19 vs. Colorado, 1997