Adarius Taylor facts for kids

Adarius Taylor (born Adarius Glanton on September 21, 1990) is an American former professional football player. He was a linebacker, which is a defensive player who helps stop the other team from scoring. Adarius played in the National Football League (NFL) for teams like the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Cleveland Browns. He also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Calgary Stampeders.

Early Life and High School Football

Adarius Taylor grew up in Lakeland, Florida. When he was in high school, he went to Lake Gibson High School. There, he was a talented athlete. He played football, ran track, and also played basketball.

College Football Journey

Adarius started his college football journey at Iowa Western Community College. After that, he moved to Eastern Arizona College. While playing for the Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters, he was a standout player. In his second year, he was named first-team All-Conference and All-Region. He made 85 tackles, which means he stopped the opposing team's players many times. He also had 5.5 sacks and forced two fumbles.

Later, from 2012 to 2013, Adarius transferred to Florida Atlantic University. He played for the Florida Atlantic Owls football team.

Professional Football Career

Adarius Taylor had a professional football career that spanned several years. He played for different teams in both the NFL and the CFL.

Playing for the Carolina Panthers (First Time)

Starting in the NFL: 2014

On May 10, 2014, Adarius Taylor signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers. This was his first big step into the NFL. He worked hard during training camp to earn a spot on the team.

He made his first professional game appearance on October 19, 2014. The Panthers played against the Green Bay Packers. Later that season, on December 21, 2014, Adarius got his first chance to start a game. He played against the Cleveland Browns and made six tackles. In the final game of the 2014 season, he forced his first fumble against the Atlanta Falcons. He finished his first year playing in ten games and starting two of them.

2015 Season with the Panthers

In 2015, Adarius continued to compete for a spot on the Panthers' roster. He was a backup linebacker. Even though he was released by the team in September, he was quickly signed to their practice squad. A practice squad is where players train with the team but aren't on the main roster for games.

Time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Joining the Buccaneers: 2015

On November 30, 2015, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Adarius Taylor. He joined their team from the Panthers' practice squad. He played in five games for the Buccaneers that year, mostly on special teams. Special teams are units that play during kickoffs, punts, and field goals.

2016 Season Highlights

In 2016, Adarius continued to play for the Buccaneers. He had a season-high six tackles in a game against the Atlanta Falcons in November. In a memorable moment on January 1, 2017, he even stepped in as a long snapper. This is a special player who snaps the ball for kicks. He helped the Buccaneers win a close game against the Carolina Panthers. He played in all 16 games that season.

2017 Season and Injury

The Buccaneers kept Adarius for the 2017 season. He competed for a starting position as a strongside linebacker. In Week 3, he made eight tackles against the Minnesota Vikings. On October 5, 2017, he had a big game against the New England Patriots. He made seven tackles, forced a fumble, and got his first career sack by tackling quarterback Tom Brady.

However, in Week 15, Adarius suffered a serious injury. He broke bones in his leg during a game against the Atlanta Falcons. This injury ended his season early, and he was placed on injured reserve. He finished the 2017 season with 31 tackles and one sack in 14 games.

2018 Season as a Starter

After recovering from his injury, Adarius returned in 2018. He earned the starting strongside linebacker position for the Buccaneers. In Week 9, he had his best game of the season, making nine tackles against the Carolina Panthers.

Playing for the Cleveland Browns

In 2019, Adarius Taylor signed a two-year contract with the Cleveland Browns. He played for the Browns for one season before being released in February 2020.

Return to the Carolina Panthers (Second Time)

On July 27, 2020, Adarius signed with the Carolina Panthers again. He played in nine games during his second time with the team. He was placed on injured reserve in November but was activated again in December.

Time with the Calgary Stampeders (CFL)

On September 26, 2023, Adarius Taylor joined the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was first on their practice roster and then moved to the active team. He played in three games for the Stampeders, making five tackles on defense and three on special teams. He also forced two fumbles. He was released by the team in November 2023.

Personal Life

Adarius Taylor changed his last name to honor his father, Basil George Taylor. His father passed away when Adarius was 16 years old. Before the change, his last name was Glanton, which is his mother's last name. Adarius's father was born in Jamaica and moved to the United States in 1979.