Jermaine Taylor distinguished himself as one of the top athletes in Bridgewater College history during his four years as an Eagle, earning All-American honors in both football and track.
Taylor left his mark on the gridiron, where he was one of the top players in the nation during Bridgewater’s rise to prominence in NCAA Division III. As a freshman in 2000, Taylor started at linebacker on the first football team in program history to earn a trip to the NCAA playoffs. In 2001, Taylor helped lead the Eagles to their first ODAC title since 1980 and a trip to the Stagg Bowl, the Division III national championship game that Bridgewater lost to the University of Mount Union. Bridgewater added ODAC titles in 2002 and 2003, with the 2003 team reaching the Division III semifinals.
As a junior, Taylor was the ODAC Player of the Year and an American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) first-team All-American pick. Taylor received All-American recognition on four other teams, including a third-team nod on the Associated Press’ Little All-America team that featured players from Division II, Division III and NAIA. Following his senior year, Taylor was a consensus Division III first-team All-American choice, while also earning a spot on the AP Little All-America first team. In 2011, D3football.com named Taylor to its All-Decade first team.
Taylor never missed a game during his time at Bridgewater. He started all 52 games during his career, in which the Eagles posted a 46-6 record.
Taylor also dominated on the track, earning four ODAC individual titles in the sprints. In 2003, he earned All-American honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championship Meet in the 100 meters, and, in 2004, he was an All-American in the indoor 55 meters.
Following graduation, Taylor earned NFL camp invitations from the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Taylor also started at linebacker for the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe during the 2005 season.
Taylor then moved on to the private sector, landing a job with Raymond James Financial. He still works for the company as a systems engineer.
In recognition of his All-American achievements in both football and track, Jermaine Taylor is worthy of induction into the Bridgewater College Athletic Hall of Fame.
