Davion Taylor 2020 NFL Draft Profile

After struggling out of high school during his first year on Coahoma Community College’s football team, Davion Taylor eventually progressed to be a starter and four-star junior college recruit. Although he was in Mississippi, Colorado saw his talent and drew him in. He would start 10 of 12 games in his junior and senior season, notching an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2019.

Taylor is also impressively athletic, performing in track at Colorado, and finishing sixth in the 100-meter dash at the Pac-12 Outdoor Championship. Taylor is an incredibly raw athlete with lots of potential. He never played high school football games due to observing Seventh-Day Adventist Sabbath on the weekend; but he always was a team-player, and impressive on the field.

Strengths

Rare track speed that could turn into an explosive linebacker;

Explosive and athletic, implicating a heavy role in pass defense;

Possesses a nose for the football and is as tenacious as most NFL linebackers;

Team-player, willing to learn and form his game;

Will take on any player he is posted against.

Weaknesses

Needs to improve fundamentals in pursuit and run stopping;

Does not have the ability to quickly spot plays forming;

Needs to learn how to run with receivers and tight ends on more complicated routes;

May be overwhelmed first year in the NFL, but should learn quick enough to contribute;

Not a blitz heavy linebacker – at least not yet.

Projection: Third Round

Bottom Line on Davion Taylor

Davion Taylor played an outside linebacker position at Colorado that was adapted into a “Star” or Laser position. He ultimately spent a lot of time dropping back into coverage, resulting in a lack of tape in traditional linebacker play. The coverage skills shown varied from highly athletic to taking bad turns on wide receivers. Yet, what he lacks in coverage skills outright, he makes up for in pure athleticism and raw ability to run downplays. He is a linebacker who happens to also be a track star and plays every part like a track star.

Taylor is going to be an exciting player in the NFL. Once he learns the fundamentals of how to perform as a linebacker, he has the potential to be a quality linebacker. He does not have robust experience in blitzing opponents, but that is something he can learn thanks to a disciplined ability to take on any player. With a nose for what it takes to play football, professional help can turn that trait into an every-down linebacker. He will fit better in a system that rewards and benefits athletic, roaming outside linebackers.

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