Nebraska Wesleyan University Athletics

Steve Taylor was a force in the middle of the football team’s defensive line in the late 1980s. A four-year starter and letter winner, Taylor came to Nebraska Wesleyan from Omaha Roncalli and developed into a Second Team NAIA All-American in 1988 as he helped the Plainsmen to both a NIAC Championship and a berth in the NAIA Playoffs.

Despite being undersized for a nose guard, Taylor accumulated 70 solo tackles and 148 assisted tackles during his career. He led the Wesleyan defensive line in tackles for three of his four seasons, and many of his stops were behind the line of scrimmage. Taylor finished with 25 career tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks (for a total of 167 yards lost) and 3 fumble recoveries. On the NWU all-time charts, he still ranks eighth in career sacks, and his single-season total of 7.5 in 1988 is tied for 10th.

As a senior, Taylor’s best games came against Midland Lutheran College and Dana College. Against the Warriors, he recorded nine tackles, seven of them solo, and he added three quarterback sacks. Versus Dana, he produced nine tackles and 2.5 sacks.

He was a two-time All-NIAC performer, made the Omaha World-Herald All-State College Team and as a senior in 1988, Taylor was also recognized for his efforts in the classroom, being named to the GTE Academic All-America Second Team.