Career: Played in 37 career games with 20 starts ... One of the offensive line's best athletes during his tenure at NU ... Played both guard and tackle ... Came to NU as a defensive lineman, but was moved to the offensive side of the ball.
2009: Graduate student ... Part-time starting left guard ... Started five games ... Saw his string of 16 straight starts snapped vs. Minnesota due to illness, though he did play in the game ... Returned to the starting lineup at Purdue ... Named team's offensive player of the week vs. Eastern Michigan ... Missed the Iowa and Illinois games with an injury (shoulder) ... Academic All-Big Ten.
2008: Started two games at right guard (vs. Southern Illinois and at Duke) and 11 games at right tackle ... Member of offensive line that was honored (NU's offensive player of the week) for its performance in the season-opening win vs. Syracuse ... Academic All-Big Ten ... 2010 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recipient.
2007: Academic All-Big Ten ... Started second career game against Northeastern, at left guard ... Suffered a leg injury against Duke and missed the Ohio State and Michigan games.
2006: Academic All-Big Ten ... Key reserve tackle on offensive line ... Made first and only career start vs. Purdue ... Named team's offensive practice player of the week vs. Michigan.
2005: Did not see action ... NU's Offensive Practice Player of the Week vs. Wisconsin.
High School: Two-time first-team All-Serra League offensive and defensive tackle ... Team's Co-Lineman of the Year ... Notched 45 tackles, 12 TFLs, 4 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 interception in 2004 ... Totaled 41 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 sacks in 2003 ... Notched seven tackles (including four TFLs), one sack and one fumble recovery vs. Hart High ... Helped the Cubs win conference titles in 2003 and 2004 ... Team earned the CIF Division I championship in 2003 for California's Southern Section ... Coached by Steve Grady.
Personal: Born Desmond Maurice Taylor ... Son of Maurice and Michelle Taylor ... Graduated in June 2009 with a degree in communication studies ... Enrolled in graduate school (communication studies).
The Taylor File
Q: Name five favorite songs (and artist) on your I-Pod:
A: I have waaaayyyy too many favorite songs just to narrow them down to five
Q: If you could dine with anyone from any period in history, who would it be?
A: Clive Davis
Q: What is the greatest lesson in life that you have learned?
A: Life is very long.... Still trying to figure that out
Q: A song that best describes you?
A: "California Love" By Tupac and Dr. Dre
Q: Something people would be surprised to know about me is:
A: I play the drums, compose, produce and engineer music
Q: My favorite place to visit is:
A: Los Angeles
Q: Which current NU football player is the biggest jokester on the team?
A: Quentin Davie
Q: My favorite thing about NU is:
A: The people & my teammates
Q: Best part about being a Northwestern football player is:
A: Playing and competing in one of the most premier leagues in the nation
Q: Describe Coach Fitzgerald in five words or less:
A: Passionate
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
A: Being a Northwestern student-athlete and earning Academic All-Big Ten two years in a row
Q: The person that inspires me the most is:
A: God
Q: When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be:
A: Reggie White
Q: My favorite pregame ritual is:
A: Listening to a particular list of songs from my I-pod
Q: My favorite food is:
A: All food is a favorite for me
Q: My favorite thing about playing at Ryan Field is:
A: The atmosphere and the fans -- there's nothing like home
Q: My favorite television show is:
A: Entourage
Q: If I were not playing football, I would be:
A: Producing and engineering music full-time
Q: The three words that best describe me:
A: Quiet, creative, humble
Q: My football-related superstition is:
A: Tying my shoes a certain way
Taylor's Career Statistics
PARTICIPATION GP2006................ 62007................ 32008................ 132009................ 8TOTAL............... 37