Aug. 31, 2004

By: Joey Mullins
Samford Sports Information Samford senior linebacker Joshua Taylor says his philosophy about playing football, and about life in general, he gets from a verse in the Bible. Colossians 3:23 says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men."

"I have always taken that verse to heart," Taylor, a captain on the 2004 Samford football team, said. "I just try to do everything with all my heart. Every time I'm on the field, I try to outwork my opponent, and whatever happens, happens."

That philosophy has helped Taylor, who is undersized at 5-foot-8 and 210 pounds, steadily improve throughout his collegiate career. In his freshman season, Taylor recorded 39 total tackles, including 17 solo tackles. In 2003, his junior campaign, Taylor tallied 72 tackles, 29 of them solo, and had four tackles for a loss and four pass break-ups.

Coming into his senior season, Taylor was voted as one of the team's four captains, along with Efrem Hill, Ray Nelson and Cortland Finnegan.

"It was really humbling and a great honor that my peers would actually choose me over some of the great athletes on our team," Taylor said. "I just live my life and don't think about things like that, but it was just a great honor."

Taylor, like most athletes, started with his sport at a young age. He started playing football in the third grade, and says his father was a big influence on his getting involved.

"My dad was a big influence," Taylor said. "He always encouraged me in everything I did."

Taylor went on to be a three-year starter for Coach John Blackmon at Sylacauga High School. He played both running back and middle linebacker in high school. He was named his team's Most Valuable Player as a senior after rushing for over 1,200 yards and registering 148 tackles in his senior campaign.

At the conclusion of his senior season, Taylor was named to the All-Talladega County Team and he participated in the Alabama High School Athletic Association's North-South All-Star game.

"I loved my high school career," Taylor said. "I played running back and linebacker, but didn't start playing linebacker until midway through my junior year. I was always undersized. We played the 4-3, and I was shorter and smaller compared to the other two guys." After high school, Taylor moved to Birmingham to attend Samford. The transition from playing high school football to playing in college was not without its obstacles for Taylor.

"When I came in, we were running the 4-3 defense, and then we switched to the 4-4, and learning that was probably the toughest transition I had," Taylor said. "Just trying to learn the defense in meetings and recognizing formations was a tough transition."

While at Samford, Taylor has played his way from being a walk-on to being one of the leaders of the team. As he starts the final season of his collegiate playing career, he uses one word when asked to describe his time at Samford: Awesome.

"Words can't describe how awesome it has been," Taylor said. "God has used me to play college football in an awesome atmosphere here at Samford. On the football team, we have people from all different backgrounds and we come together as a family.

"Coach Gray has been amazing, spiritually," Taylor said. "The way he responded to Chuck's (Charles Williams') death, really brought us closer together. And the way he, as a Godly man, can take his spiritual life, put it into football, and not let football overcome it, has been great for us. He has been a great figure in my life to look up to."

In 2003, Taylor and the Bulldogs posted a surprising 7-4 record, and finished tied for third in their first year in the Ohio Valley Conference, after being picked to finish eighth in the nine-team league. "I just feel that last year's team was a special team, especially the seniors and captains," Taylor said. "That is something I am proud of. I'll always remember last year, and hopefully this year will be just as special."

Taylor said the team's goal for the 2004 season is to win the OVC Championship. He also has some individual goals he would like to meet. "As for individual goals, I just want to be the best football player I can be," Taylor said. "Whatever I can do to make our team the best it can be is what I want to do."

When his time at Samford is done, Taylor says he is considering going to seminary and possibly working overseas.

"I have a love for the Gospel and a love for the nations," Taylor said. "And if that calls me to go overseas and share the Gospel, then that is what I am willing to do."