Ramonce Taylor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Temple, Texas, U.S.
 Taylor in 2005 | |
| No. 11 | |
|---|---|
| Positions | Running back, wide receiver, kick returner, quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 11, 1985 Temple, Texas, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Belton (Belton, Texas) |
| College | Texas |
| NFL draft | 2007: undrafted |
| Career history | |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Awards and highlights | |
Ramonce DeRon Taylor Sr. (born September 11, 1985) is an American former football player best known for being the leading rusher on the 2005 National Championship Texas Longhorns football Team. He left the team early because of legal troubles and entered the NFL draft a year early. As a professional he spent two short stints in the Canadian Football League, but never played in a game. He also spent 6 seasons playing indoor football in the arenafootball2, IFL, SIFL and CIF leagues where he switched from running back to wide receiver and then, in his last season, quarterback.
Taylor was born on September 11, 1985, in Temple, Texas. At Belton High School, Taylor was a multi-sport athlete who finished his high school career having set school records in three different sports.[1]
In football, he produced a school record of 4,010 rushing yards and 62 touchdowns over three years.[2] He was kicked off the team as a sophomore for what he called a "bad attitude" but worked his way back on.[3] He led his team to the 2001 playoffs where they lost in the first round and set a school record for longest run from scrimmage (96 yards). In his junior year he set the school records for rushing yards in a season (1,529) and TDs (28) and rushing touchdowns in a game (6). He was named 1st team all district and 3rd-team all-state. In his senior year he led the team to a District Championship broke his own school record for yards in a season (2,371) and TDs (32) and broke the record for rushing yards in a game (347). That season he also played cornerback and punter. He was named district Offensive MVP and 1st team all-state. In 2005 he was named to the All-Time Centex Team.[1]
Taylor was a four-year varsity track athlete. As a junior he won the state championship in the long jump with a 25' jump that was in the top mark in the country that year and as a result he was named a high school All-American. That summer he placed 3rd and 2nd in a pair of national high school meets. As a senior, he won both the long jump and triple jump at the District championship and also finished in 2nd in the 100 meters, 400 meters relay and 800 meter relay. He also won the long jump and triple jump at the regional championship and helped Belton to finish in 2nd at the meet. At the state championship he repeated as the long jump champion, came in 4th in the 100 meters and 7th in the triple jump.[1]
In basketball, he helped Belton win the 2002 district championship for the first time in 35 years and advance to the 2nd round of the playoffs while earning 1st team all-district honors. He helped them to the 2nd round of the playoffs again in 2003, repeated as 1st team all district and was also named All-Centex by the Austin American Statesman. Belton won a share of the championship in his senior year and made it to the 3rd round of the playoffs. He was named 1st team all-district; 2nd team all-region; and 2nd team All-Centex as a senior and set the 37 year-old record for most points in a game (44) in an upset victory over #8 Amarillo.[1]
College career
Taylor played football at Texas in 2004–05.
In 2004, he accumulated 284 yards rushing, backing up Cedric Benson and helped the team get to the Rose Bowl, which they won.[4]
In the 2005 season, his second with the Longhorns, he scored 4 TDs in his first 5 games, became a starter and compiled a total of 1,219 offensive yards for 15 touchdowns, which led the team.[2] He was all an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention on an undefeated team that won the Big 12 and the BCS Championship.
After the National Champions game, Taylor started making some "bad decisions". He got into academic trouble and in May 2005, he was arrested on marijuana charges.[5] Longhorn coach Mack Brown dismissed Taylor from the team due to academic and legal troubles.[6][7] In September 2006, he pleaded guilty to the felony drug charges and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and five years deferred adjudication.[7] He avoided jail time by participating in a work release program.[3]
He attempted to transfer to Texas College, an NAIA school, and play football there – as he was academically ineligible to return to Texas – but could not get academically cleared to play in 2006.[8]
With his college career over, he played in the Texas vs The Nation All-Star game in 2007.[9]