A standout on the gridiron, Taylor was a four-year starter on the offensive line and a two-time all-district selection. The 1977 Blueboy team that he co-captained achieved a national ranking. In track, Taylor won all-conference honors in the shot put and discus and finished second in the shot put at the 1976 NAIA district meet. He completed a Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Illinois.