Patrick Taylor Jr. strives to always lead by example.
In leading the Memphis Tigers to an 8-5, 5-3 finish in the American Athletic West Conference, the 6-foot-3, 223-pound junior quietly finished second on the team in rushing with 1,012 yards and touchdowns with 15, according to ESPN.
Taylor capped his last three games of the regular season rushing for over 100 yards for the Tigers and had at least 95 yards on the ground in five of his last six starts.
Taylor’s actions off the field often come across as being just as heroically unforgettable.
He regularly accompanies coaches on visits to children’s hospitals two or three times a month, where he engages in everything from dressing as cartoon characters to reading bedtime stories to his growing fan base.
“He’s a quiet leader that leads by example,” director of player relations Braxton Brady recently told the Commercial Appeal.
Taylor was a three-year starter at Atascocita High, where he rushed for 2,139 yards and 29 touchdowns over his career. As a senior, he earned All-District 16-6A first team honors, rushing for 281 and four touchdowns in a second-round playoff win over Cedar Ridge.
