Taylor was born on Lady's Island, South Carolina. He attended Beaufort High School, where he helped lead his Beaufort Eagles to the Class AAAA state championship game his senior year. He recorded 110 tackles with 10 quarterback sacks and 19 tackles for a loss during his senior campaign, and was recognized with first-team all-state selections from the Associated Press and The State. He recorded 80 tackles and four sacks as a junior. Taylor also lettered in basketball and track and field. As a senior, he won the Class 4A state title in the triple jump with a leap of 48 feet 3 inches.
College career
Taylor received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of South Carolina, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks football team from 2008 to 2012. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2008. He started the first five games but split playing time with Clifton Geathers for the duration of the 2009 season. Taylor earned recognition as the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week in his first career college football game against NC State. In his first career college snap, Taylor forced a fumble that was recovered by the Gamecocks, which led to the only touchdown of the game. On NC State's second possession, he blocked a punt. He finished the game with six tackles, two forced fumbles, and a sack. In the 2009 season he recorded a total of 28 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks. As a sophomore, Taylor started all 14 games and led USC defensive linemen with 46 tackles, including thirteen tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He also led the team with eight pass breakups and eleven quarterback hurries. He scored a touchdown on a 24-yard interception return at Tennessee, which coupled with two fumble recoveries earned him recognition as SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. Taylor, along with teammates Alshon Jeffery and Marcus Lattimore, was a first-team selection for the 2010 Associated Press All-SEC team. Taylor started all 13 games for the 2011 Gamecocks, accruing 42 tackles and six sacks. He also had an interception returned for a touchdown in a loss against Arkansas. In 2012 Taylor started all 13 games, and logged 40 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He was also credited with five pass breakups and three hurries.
Professional career
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions selected Taylor in the fourth round, with the 132nd overall pick, of the 2013 NFL Draft. On December 3, 2015, Taylor was involved in a controversial penalty call, where he was flagged for a face mask on Aaron Rodgers. The Packers would score on a game-winning Hail Mary after the call. In 2016, Taylor started all 16 games recording 28 tackles, 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble. He was not re-signed after the season and became an unrestricted free agent.
On May 25, 2017, Taylor signed with the New York Giants. He was released on September 2, 2017. He was re-signed by the Giants on October 31, 2017. He was released on November 14, 2017.
In 2018, Taylor signed with the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football for the 2019 season. Taylor recorded his first sack in the startup league in a Week 3 victory against the Atlanta Legends, forcing a fumble in the process. The league ceased operations in April 2019.
Taylor was drafted in the 10th round during phase three in the 2020 XFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Vipers. He was waived during final roster cuts on January 22, 2020.
Taylor was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Wildcats on January 22, 2020. Out of 5 games during the COVID-19 pandemic shortened season, Taylor played in 3, recording 8 tackles and 1.5 sacks. As a result, he was named to the league's midseason awards team, as well as being one of the highest graded pass rushers by Pro Football Focus. Taylor was profiled in an article about the XFL's shutdown. He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.
Personal life
Taylor is related to Joe Frazier on his mother's side. Taylor stated he never met Frazier before his death, but in 2011 he said, "I've heard a bunch of different stories and stuff growing up from my mom and aunts who knew him".
