- Played in 15 games in 2011, second most among Green Bay rookies behind only LB D.J. Smith (16).
- Finished No. 5 on the team and No. 2 among Packers rookies with 10 tackles on special teams in ’11.
- Set a North Carolina single-season school record for receptions by a tight end with 36 in 2010.
- Established career highs for receptions and yards in each of his final three collegiate games, capping his career with nine catches for 85 yards in the Music City Bowl vs. Tennessee.
- Played on offense (TE), defense (LB) and special teams in the same game, vs. North Carolina State in 2008.
- Was special teams captain for the Tar Heels for two seasons (2008, 2010), having missed the 2009 season due to a knee injury.
Pro Highlights:
- Appeared in 15 games in 2011, second most among Packers rookies behind only LB D.J. Smith.
- A key contributor on special teams, he finished fifth on the team with 10 tackles, which was also second among Green Bay rookies behind only Smith (11).
- Saw his first action on offense vs. Oakland in Week 14 following the season-ending knee injury sustained by TE Andrew Quarless the previous week at the N.Y. Giants.
- Scored a TD on his first offensive snap of the season, a 4-yard grab from QB Aaron Rodgers against the Raiders.
- Was drafted by the Packers with the first of two seventh-round picks (218th overall), the first player drafted by Green Bay out of North Carolina since DT Vonnie Holliday (first round, 1998).
2011 SEASON: Played in 15 regular-season games as well as the team’s playoff contest…Finished No. 5 on the team with 10 special teams tackles…His one reception went for a 4-yard TD…Inactive for the season opener vs. New Orleans (Sept. 8)…At Carolina (Sept. 18): Made his pro debut in his home state, registering two tackles on special teams, one each on the kickoff- and punt-coverage units…At Minnesota (Oct. 23): Played on special teams and his block on LB Kenny Onatolu helped spring WR Randall Cobb’s 42-yard punt return in the third quarter…At San Diego (Nov. 6): Made two tackles on special teams, one each in punt and kickoff coverage…Vs. Minnesota (Nov. 14): Recorded a stop on special teams and made a key block on FB Ryan D’Imperio to help create a wide lane used by Cobb at the beginning of his 80-yard punt return for a TD early in the first quarter…Vs. Oakland (Dec. 11): Saw his first playing time on offense in the absence of Quarless (knee). Made an immediate impact by catching a 4-yard TD pass on his first career offensive snap. Ran a quick hook route just beyond the goal line and reached to his left for his first career grab, one that gave Green Bay a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter…Vs. N.Y. Giants (NFC Divisional, Jan. 15): Appeared on offense and special teams. Saw extended action in a fullback role in the second half after John Kuhn departed with a knee injury. Made a key lead block on LB Mathias Kiwanuka on RB James Starks’ game-long 29-yard run in the third quarter...2011 Draft: Drafted by the Packers with the first of two seventh-round picks, the 218th overall selection and the 11th TE taken. Became the first player drafted by the Packers from North Carolina since DT Vonnie Holliday (first round, 1998).
COLLEGE: An all-way player early in his college career as a tight end, linebacker and special teams contributor who emerged as his team’s primary threat at tight end as a senior…Was a special teams captain for two seasons at North Carolina, in 2008 and 2010, the two years sandwiched around the 2009 season he lost due to a knee injury…Played in 48 games with five starts during his career, with all five starts coming at tight end as a senior…Interestingly, his position coach at North Carolina during his freshman 2006 season was John Gutekunst, father of Packers director of college scouting Brian Gutekunst, and his position coach his final two college seasons was Allen Mogridge, who also was Starks’ position coach for his freshman season in 2006 at Buffalo…Majored in communications…Senior season (2010): A special teams captain for a second time, developed into a valuable contributor at H-back and then became the offense’s primary threat at TE when Zack Pianalto was lost to an injury at midseason…With a strong finish to his career, during which he established personal highs for receptions and yards in each of his last three games, set a school record for most receptions in a season by a TE with 36, for 330 yards (9.2 avg.) and two TDs…Established career highs for the third straight game with nine receptions for 85 yards (9.4 avg.), with a long of 18 vs. Tennessee (Dec. 30) in the Music City Bowl…Redshirt season (2009): Redshirted after injuring his knee in fall camp…Junior season (2008): Named one of two special teams captains…Played in all 13 games and posted 19 tackles, mostly on special teams, but also as a reserve LB…Also returned two kickoffs for 18 yards…Sophomore season (2007): Played in 11 games, primarily on special teams, and recorded five tackles…Recovered a blocked punt to set up a TD and was named one of the team’s special teams players of the week vs. James Madison (Sept. 1)…Freshman season (2006): One of four true freshmen to receive playing time…Played in 11 games, primarily on special teams…Had four tackles (two solo).
PERSONAL: Given name Ryan Lawrence Taylor…Born in Winston-Salem, N.C. …Single…High school: A two-time all-conference selection at Mount Tabor High in Winston-Salem, helping lead the team to the quarterfinals of the 4A state championships his last two seasons…Set school single-season records with 64 receptions for 1,180 yards (18.4 avg.) and 13 TDs as a senior…Also rushed 13 times for 85 yards (6.5 avg.) and three TDs and returned nine kickoffs for 177 yards (19.7 avg.) and 16 punts for 111 yards (6.9 avg.)…As a junior, caught 54 passes for 995 yards (18.4 avg.) and 12 TDs…Also played DE and turned down lacrosse scholarship offers to stick with football…Community involvement: Participated in the Green Bay Packers Golf Invitational in Kohler, Wis. …While in college, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Big Brothers Big Sisters and visited the burn unit of a hospital on campus...Hobbies/interests: Enjoys playing golf, target shooting and fishing...Lists five-time Pro Bowl TE Wesley Walls as his favorite athlete, having worked out with the former Packer (2003) in Charlotte during the summers...Lists Entourage as his favorite TV show and Braveheart and The Last of the Mohicans as his favorite movies...Enjoys reading Malcolm Gladwell books...Names George Strait, Kings of Leon, and Mumford and Sons as his favorite musical acts...Enjoys visiting Lake George, N.Y., where his family has had a home for 60-plus years...Residence: Chapel Hill, N.C.
- Played in 15 games in 2011, second most among Green Bay rookies behind only LB D.J. Smith (16).
- Finished No. 5 on the team and No. 2 among Packers rookies with 10 tackles on special teams in ’11.
- Set a North Carolina single-season school record for receptions by a tight end with 36 in 2010.
- Established career highs for receptions and yards in each of his final three collegiate games, capping his career with nine catches for 85 yards in the Music City Bowl vs. Tennessee.
- Played on offense (TE), defense (LB) and special teams in the same game, vs. North Carolina State in 2008.
- Was special teams captain for the Tar Heels for two seasons (2008, 2010), having missed the 2009 season due to a knee injury.
Pro Highlights:
- Appeared in 15 games in 2011, second most among Packers rookies behind only LB D.J. Smith.
- A key contributor on special teams, he finished fifth on the team with 10 tackles, which was also second among Green Bay rookies behind only Smith (11).
- Saw his first action on offense vs. Oakland in Week 14 following the season-ending knee injury sustained by TE Andrew Quarless the previous week at the N.Y. Giants.
- Scored a TD on his first offensive snap of the season, a 4-yard grab from QB Aaron Rodgers against the Raiders.
- Was drafted by the Packers with the first of two seventh-round picks (218th overall), the first player drafted by Green Bay out of North Carolina since DT Vonnie Holliday (first round, 1998).
2011 SEASON: Played in 15 regular-season games as well as the team’s playoff contest…Finished No. 5 on the team with 10 special teams tackles…His one reception went for a 4-yard TD…Inactive for the season opener vs. New Orleans (Sept. 8)…At Carolina (Sept. 18): Made his pro debut in his home state, registering two tackles on special teams, one each on the kickoff- and punt-coverage units…At Minnesota (Oct. 23): Played on special teams and his block on LB Kenny Onatolu helped spring WR Randall Cobb’s 42-yard punt return in the third quarter…At San Diego (Nov. 6): Made two tackles on special teams, one each in punt and kickoff coverage…Vs. Minnesota (Nov. 14): Recorded a stop on special teams and made a key block on FB Ryan D’Imperio to help create a wide lane used by Cobb at the beginning of his 80-yard punt return for a TD early in the first quarter…Vs. Oakland (Dec. 11): Saw his first playing time on offense in the absence of Quarless (knee). Made an immediate impact by catching a 4-yard TD pass on his first career offensive snap. Ran a quick hook route just beyond the goal line and reached to his left for his first career grab, one that gave Green Bay a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter…Vs. N.Y. Giants (NFC Divisional, Jan. 15): Appeared on offense and special teams. Saw extended action in a fullback role in the second half after John Kuhn departed with a knee injury. Made a key lead block on LB Mathias Kiwanuka on RB James Starks’ game-long 29-yard run in the third quarter...2011 Draft: Drafted by the Packers with the first of two seventh-round picks, the 218th overall selection and the 11th TE taken. Became the first player drafted by the Packers from North Carolina since DT Vonnie Holliday (first round, 1998).
COLLEGE: An all-way player early in his college career as a tight end, linebacker and special teams contributor who emerged as his team’s primary threat at tight end as a senior…Was a special teams captain for two seasons at North Carolina, in 2008 and 2010, the two years sandwiched around the 2009 season he lost due to a knee injury…Played in 48 games with five starts during his career, with all five starts coming at tight end as a senior…Interestingly, his position coach at North Carolina during his freshman 2006 season was John Gutekunst, father of Packers director of college scouting Brian Gutekunst, and his position coach his final two college seasons was Allen Mogridge, who also was Starks’ position coach for his freshman season in 2006 at Buffalo…Majored in communications…Senior season (2010): A special teams captain for a second time, developed into a valuable contributor at H-back and then became the offense’s primary threat at TE when Zack Pianalto was lost to an injury at midseason…With a strong finish to his career, during which he established personal highs for receptions and yards in each of his last three games, set a school record for most receptions in a season by a TE with 36, for 330 yards (9.2 avg.) and two TDs…Established career highs for the third straight game with nine receptions for 85 yards (9.4 avg.), with a long of 18 vs. Tennessee (Dec. 30) in the Music City Bowl…Redshirt season (2009): Redshirted after injuring his knee in fall camp…Junior season (2008): Named one of two special teams captains…Played in all 13 games and posted 19 tackles, mostly on special teams, but also as a reserve LB…Also returned two kickoffs for 18 yards…Sophomore season (2007): Played in 11 games, primarily on special teams, and recorded five tackles…Recovered a blocked punt to set up a TD and was named one of the team’s special teams players of the week vs. James Madison (Sept. 1)…Freshman season (2006): One of four true freshmen to receive playing time…Played in 11 games, primarily on special teams…Had four tackles (two solo).
PERSONAL: Given name Ryan Lawrence Taylor…Born in Winston-Salem, N.C. …Single…High school: A two-time all-conference selection at Mount Tabor High in Winston-Salem, helping lead the team to the quarterfinals of the 4A state championships his last two seasons…Set school single-season records with 64 receptions for 1,180 yards (18.4 avg.) and 13 TDs as a senior…Also rushed 13 times for 85 yards (6.5 avg.) and three TDs and returned nine kickoffs for 177 yards (19.7 avg.) and 16 punts for 111 yards (6.9 avg.)…As a junior, caught 54 passes for 995 yards (18.4 avg.) and 12 TDs…Also played DE and turned down lacrosse scholarship offers to stick with football…Community involvement: Participated in the Green Bay Packers Golf Invitational in Kohler, Wis. …While in college, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Big Brothers Big Sisters and visited the burn unit of a hospital on campus...Hobbies/interests: Enjoys playing golf, target shooting and fishing...Lists five-time Pro Bowl TE Wesley Walls as his favorite athlete, having worked out with the former Packer (2003) in Charlotte during the summers...Lists Entourage as his favorite TV show and Braveheart and The Last of the Mohicans as his favorite movies...Enjoys reading Malcolm Gladwell books...Names George Strait, Kings of Leon, and Mumford and Sons as his favorite musical acts...Enjoys visiting Lake George, N.Y., where his family has had a home for 60-plus years...Residence: Chapel Hill, N.C.
