Jason Taylor
Taylor currently plays defensive end for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. He attended the University of Akron. Taylor has a total of 106 sacks as of December 19, 2006, placing him third amongst currently active NFL players. He has been selected to five Pro Bowls.
Despite being home-schooled from 10th to 12th grade, Jason Taylor participated in athletics at Woodland Hills High School in Churchill, Pennsylvania, where he was a two-sport star in both football and basketball. As a senior, in football, he won Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League honors by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Gateway Newspapers at both tight end and free safety.
In 2006, Taylor enjoyed perhaps his finest season yet; he had 13½ sacks, ten forced fumbles, and two interceptions that were both returned for touchdowns. Taylor now has seven defensive scores in his career, which ties the league record.
On January 5, 2007, Taylor was awarded with the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. Taylor, who received 22 votes from a panel of 50 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NFL, beat Denver cornerback Champ Bailey, who received 16 votes. San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman received six votes, and last year's winner, Brian Urlacher of Chicago received four votes.
Taylor is the Dolphins career record holder for sacks with 106, and fumble recoveries with 23, and fumble recoveries for touchdowns, 5. He also has returned 2 interceptions for touchdowns, both in 2006.
On November 5, 2006, Taylor got his 100th sack against Rex Grossman of the Chicago Bears. He is the 22nd player in NFL history to get to 100 sacks since it became an official stat in 1982.