Reaching the NFL as a starting linebacker is an impressive accomplishment, but doing so without high school football experience takes it to an entirely different level.
That’s how it was for Ottawa REDBLACKS linebacker Davion Taylor, who became a starter with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 despite playing a grand total of two games of football in high school.
Unfortunately, Taylor’s time as an NFL starter was cut short after just six games due to a serious knee injury. Now fully recovered, he has made his way to the nation’s capital, where he’s helped the REDBLACKS return to the CFL playoffs for the first time since 2018.
Taylor recently joined Faces to reflect on his journey from Magnolia, Mississippi, to the bright lights of pro football and the experiences that have shaped him into who he is today.
How would you describe your time in the city of Ottawa so far?
My time in Ottawa has been great! There are so many activities to do and experience, especially in the summer. There were festivals, concerts, soccer games, nature, and plenty of food. Poutine was one of the Canadian foods that has stood out to me. I’ve never had anything like it, and I love that you can try so many different types. I truly love the culture and everything that comes with the city, and I’m very glad I got to start my Canadian career here in Ottawa.
By Steve Warne, Photography by Sean Sisk
What was life like growing up in Magnolia, Mississippi? What do you remember most about childhood? And what was family life like?
Life growing up in Magnolia was great. It was my mother, brother, and me, and the house was filled with love. We lived in a small neighbourhood where we had a lot of kids our age to play outside with.
Why didn’t you play football in high school?
My mother wasn’t necessarily against me playing the sport of football. In fact, she hated that I had to sit out in high school. Growing up, our religion was a little different than others. We kept the Sabbath day, which, for us, started Friday when the sun goes down until Saturday when the sun goes down again. That 24-hour period was dedicated to God, and it was our day of rest. So I couldn’t play the Friday night games.
So, how did you manage to get an offer from the University of Colorado with so little playing experience?
Coahoma Community College was the only school that gave me an opportunity after they invited me to come to summer camp. I truly thought I wasn’t going to make it because I originally tried out as safety but was moved to linebacker and didn’t even know what the simplest things were.
Colorado came around after my first year at Coahoma. They were the first Power 5 offer I had during this process, and it was already something unimaginable, given my circumstances. I committed on the spot but wanted to finish my second year at the college to continue to hone my craft in the sport and also get my associate’s degree.
After my second year, I ended up being the #1 outside linebacker in the nation with plenty of Power 5 offers but decided to stay true and went to Colorado.
You started six games for the Philadelphia Eagles. Can you describe how well things were going at that point?
My second year in the NFL, I was eventually named a starter during the 2021 season. This time was one of the best of my career. Every week, I was getting better, and the game had truly slowed down for me. One of my best games was against the Denver Broncos, where I was back in Colorado and had two forced fumbles and a few big tackles. Before my injury, I truly believed that year I was going to become the force I always imagined.
How did things change after that?
After my injury, I sadly missed the rest of that season, and it took over 3 months for me to feel whole again. The season after my injury, I came to training camp and had to prove I could still play. Training camp was going well until the preseason games came around. Even though my knee was physically healed, mentally, I was not. I found myself thinking about my knee during the game and not playing effectively. This caused me to get cut and brought back on the practice squad, where I spent the rest of that year. The year after, I bounced around on practice squads across the league, and now I am here.
How has your first season with the REDBLACKS gone?
My time with the team has been nothing short of great. I’m grateful that I have teammates who not only want to succeed as individuals but also want to see the ones around them do the same. This team has all the pieces to be a championship team, and I am happy to have an opportunity to be a part of it.
70 years from now, how would you like people to remember Davion Taylor as a person?
I would like to be remembered as a man who stayed humble but strived every day and night to achieve his dream. A man of God who has had faith over the years, throughout the good and bad times in life. I also want to be known as someone who helped the youth every chance I had and tried to help bring about a better future.
Anything else you’d like our readers to know about Davion Taylor?
I am just glad to be able to share my story and let people know how I got to be where I am. Thankfulness and perseverance are just a couple of words that describe my journey. I truly hope that getting to know who I am encourages people in their own stories as well.
