NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Blaise Taylor, CB – Arkansas State University
Business Administration – 3.84 GPA
Head Coach: Blake Anderson | Athletics Director: Terry Mohajir
Faculty Athletics Representative: Karen McDaniel
Believed to be the only active player in the FBS to have earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees before the start of his true senior season, Arkansas State’s Blaise Taylor has taken full advantage of his time in Jonesboro. Capping off his extraordinary career, he becomes the second Red Wolves player in history to be named an NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
After graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in just two and a half years, Taylor earned his MBA last summer, giving him two degrees before the start of his fourth year on campus. A native of Waco, Texas, Taylor is a member of the Sun Belt Commissioner’s List and the Arkansas State Athletics Director’s Honor Roll. Taylor was also named a top 10 student in the A-State College of Business in 2015-16 and a recipient of the Strong-Turner 3.0 Society Award.
In addition to posting 18 tackles this season, the return specialist leads the Sun Belt Conference and ranks in the top five nationally with 18 punt returns for 308 yards (17.1 avg.), including a 63-yard return for a touchdown versus Nebraska. Taylor has also recorded one interception and is tied for the team lead with seven pass breakups, all while leading the Red Wolves to a 5-2 record (4-0 in conference). Taylor was named the Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week after helping Arkansas State to a road victory over New Mexico State on Oct. 28. During the game, he recorded a school and Sun Belt Conference-record nine punt returns for a career-high 114 yards that were also the third most ever by an A-State player and fifth most in Sun Belt history.
A two-time Second Team All-Sun Belt performer, Taylor holds A-State records for career punt returns (100) and return yards (1,089), both ranking second all-time in Sun Belt Conference annals. His four punt returns for touchdowns also rank second in league history. Taylor holds three of the top-10 marks in school history for punt return yards in a game and in a season and boasts the two highest punt return averages in a game all-time. Also recording five interceptions and 23 pass breakups in his career, he has helped the Red Wolves to consecutive Sun Belt titles and three-straight bowl games, including a win in the 2016 Cure Bowl.
One of only eight students to receive Arkansas State’s prestigious Distinguished Service Award, Taylor is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Inspired by his volunteer work at a local alternative school called Success Academy, Taylor and his sister created the non-profit, The Power of One or Two, designed to work with at-risk youth.
All stats as of Nov. 1, 2017.
