Wake Forest Athletics
Taylor Chosen in Sixth Round by Chargers
4/30/2022 5:14:00 PM | Football
This is the seventh defensive player selected in the Dave Clawson era and third defensive back.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The #ProDeacs family added its newest member when the Los Angeles Chargers chose defensive back Ja'Sir Taylor with the 214th overall pick in the sixth round.
Taylor is just the second Wake Forest player to ever be chosen by the Chargers and the first since linebacker Carlos Bradley was chosen in 1981 in the 11th round.
This is the seventh defensive player selected in the Dave Clawson era and third defensive back, joining elite company alongside former first-round pick Kevin Johnson in 2015 and All-Pro Jessie Bates III in 2018.
Wake Forest has now had at least one pick in every NFL Draft since 2017, tying the second longest streak in the common NFL Draft era (since 1967). That streak matches the program's record of now six-straight bowl berths. Additionally during this streak, the Demon Deacons have had 29 players sign NFL contracts.
This marks the third time in the Dave Clawson era that multiple players have been selected in the same draft. It joins the 2020 NFL Draft that saw linebacker Justin Strnad go to the Broncos and offensive lineman Justin Herron go to New England Patriots as well as the 2018 NFL Draft where defensive back Jessie Bates III was chosen by Cincinnati Bengals and defensive lineman Duke Ejiofor was taken by Houston Texans.
From Coach Clawson
"Ja'Sir Taylor is an outstanding young man that was extremely productive for our program. He improved every year on the field and truly became a leader in our locker room as he was a captain for us this past fall. Ja'Sir's tireless work ethic will make it an easy transition for him when he gets to the Los Angeles Chargers. In my eight years at Wake Forest, it is hard to find a young man with better character and determination than Ja'Sir."
From Todd McShay of ESPN
"Ja'Sir Taylor has been around football and played so many games of the past several years, 62 games for Wake Forest. I like bringing this guy in and he always had to fight for everything he could get. He's going to try to do everything you can on special teams to make this football team."
More on Ja'Sir Taylor
Taylor, who played in the 2022 East-West Shrine Game, is the program-record holder for most career games played with 62 in his five seasons. He started the last 23 games in his career. Over the course of his career, he totaled 185 career tackles with 153 solo tackles including a career-best 60 in 2021. Additionally, he tallied six career interceptions all coming in the last three seasons including a pair during the 2021 season.
During the historic 2021 campaign, he earned All-ACC Honorable Mention by the league, coaches and media. He got his final season with the Deacs off to a quick start, receiving ACC Specialist of the Week (Sept. 7) after a win over Old Dominion. Taylor became the first player in Wake Forest history to have a kick return touchdown and an interception in the same game, helping defeat the Monarchs in the opener, 42-10. He was the first player in college football to return a kickoff for a touchdown in 2021.
He ended the season fifth on the team with a career-best 60 total tackles while his career-best 47 solo tackles ranked second for the Demon Deacons. Additionally, he tied for the team lead with three fumble recoveries while his two interceptions ranked second.
What's Out There?
Check out all the social media buzz around Ja'Sir Taylor being selected by the Los Angeles Chargers.
EMBEDDED TWEETS/SOCIAL POSTS
𝙒𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 ➡️ @chargers
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) April 30, 2022
Let's go, @suppastar_ ⚡️#NFLDraft | #ProDeacs 🎩 pic.twitter.com/7LkKPlSlwt
YESSIR, JA'SIR 😤 pic.twitter.com/rfnREQFrH8
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) April 30, 2022
#ShrineBowl ➡️ #NFL
— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) April 30, 2022
Congrats to Ja'Sir Taylor (@suppastar_) from @WakeFB on being selected by the @chargers in the sixth round of the #NFLDraft.#ShrineBowlPRO | #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/Z1HU62QXsb
Round 6, No. 214 overall: @chargers select @WakeFB CB Ja'Sir Taylorhttps://t.co/cJ8fbBWrJn#NFLDraft
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) April 30, 2022
4.3 40 for Ja'Sir Taylor. ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️#boltup pic.twitter.com/JrVS28StxL
— Kenjac (@JackKennedy) April 30, 2022
gms aren't the only ones making house calls today
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) April 30, 2022
⚡️ @suppastar_ 👀 pic.twitter.com/Io2ZkaTpjq
