Ramonce Taylor

Ramonce DeRon Taylor Sr. (born September 11, 1985) is an American former football player best known for being the leading rusher on the 2005 National Championship Texas Longhorns football Team. He left the team early because of legal troubles and entered the NFL draft a year early. As a professional he spent two short stints in the Canadian Football League, but never played in a game. He also spent 6 seasons playing indoor football in the arenafootball2, IFL, SIFL and CIF leagues where he switched from running back to wide receiver and then, in his last season, quarterback.

Early life Taylor was born on September 11, 1985, in Temple, Texas. At Belton High School, Taylor was a multi-sport athlete who finished his high school career having set school records in three different sports. He was kicked off the team as a sophomore for what he called a "bad attitude" but worked his way back on. He led his team to the 2001 playoffs where they lost in the first round and set a school record for longest run from scrimmage (96 yards). In his junior year he set the school records for rushing yards in a season (1,529) and TDs (28) and rushing touchdowns in a game (6). He was named 1st team all district and 3rd-team all-state. In his senior year he led the team to a District Championship broke his own school record for yards in a season (2,371) and TDs (32) and broke the record for rushing yards in a game (347). That season he also played cornerback and punter. He was named district Offensive MVP and 1st team all-state. In 2005 he was named to the All-Time Centex Team.

In basketball, he helped Belton win the 2002 district championship for the first time in 35 years and advance to the 2nd round of the playoffs while earning 1st team all-district honors. He helped them to the 2nd round of the playoffs again in 2003, repeated as 1st team all district and was also named All-Centex by the Austin American Statesman. Belton won a share of the championship in his senior year and made it to the 3rd round of the playoffs. He was named 1st team all-district; 2nd team all-region; and 2nd team All-Centex as a senior and set the 37 year-old record for most points in a game (44) in an upset victory over #8 Amarillo.

In the 2005 season, his second with the Longhorns, he scored 4 TDs in his first 5 games, became a starter and compiled a total of 1,219 offensive yards for 15 touchdowns, which led the team. Longhorn coach Mack Brown dismissed Taylor from the team due to academic and legal troubles. In September 2006, he pleaded guilty to the felony drug charges and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and five years deferred adjudication.

With his college career over, he played in the Texas vs The Nation All-Star game in 2007.

Professional career Taylor entered the draft early, as a junior, and was expected to be taken in the 2007 NFL draft. He was invited to the NFL combine but after posting a 4.5 in the 40, he went undrafted. He was also not signed as a free agent.

In late 2007 he went to a tryout with the CenTex Barracudas.

Disappointed with his football career, Taylor went back to drinking too much and smoking weed. In February 2008, he was given a workout by the Kansas City Chiefs that went well enough for the Chiefs to offer him a 3 year contract, He played one game for the Dorados before leaving for the Canadian Football League (CFL) in early April.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers On June 4, 2009, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL signed him to a contract. He was released on June 19, 2009, after muffing a punt in a pre-season game and with coach Mike Kelly questioning his maturity. He returned to the Dorados.

Rio Grande Valley Dorados (second stint) Taylor returned to the Dorados for the last 6 games of the season. They lost in the first game of the playoffs to Bossier-Shreveport.

Edmonton Eskimos On October 7, 2009, Taylor was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL, but did not appear in any games that season. On June 22, 2010, before the 2010 season started, he was cut by the Eskimos.

Rio Grande Valley Magic In March 2011, Taylor was signed by the Rio Grande Valley Magic of the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL). Taylor was the team's backup quarterback and when starting quarterback Billy Garza was injured at the end of a late April game, Taylor – who had 4 touchdowns already – filled in, throwing an incomplete pass on 4th and goal that sealed the Magic's loss. In that same game, he had the SIFL's season-high single game KO return performance with 216 yards. The team went 6–6 and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Allen Wranglers In 2012, Taylor signed with the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League (IFL) after the team had signed Terrell Owens and about a month into the season. Taylor found himself playing sparingly in his first 5 games, mostly handling kickoff returns. But after Owens was waived, Taylor got more playing time and was named IFL offensive player of the week for week 15 and special teams player of the week in weeks 14 and 17. He had over 900 yards in KO returns, 200 yards of receiving, 11 touchdowns and 142 tackles on defense. In that game Taylor set two league post-season records with 165 yards in kickoff return yards in a game and 256 All-Purpose Yards in a game, including the 3rd longest post season KO Return of 56 yards and also had the 2nd highest KO return average in the IFL playoffs per season and 3rd highest per game with 27.5 yards per return. The Revolution went 5–9 and missed the playoffs in a season where Taylor played in 9 games.

In March 2014, the Revolution re-signed Taylor, but not until after week 4. Despite his late start he had the team's 2nd most all-purpose yards (1088), rushing yards (92), receiving yards (585) and return yards (41) while also scoring 11 touchdowns and recording 6 tackles. He also went 7 for 19 passing for 142 yards with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He earned honorable mention player of the week honors 3 times – once on special teams and twice on offense – in April of that season. That season he set the IFL record for most receiving yards in a game with 213 yards against Colorado. The Team went 3–11 and missed the playoffs.

In 2015 he worked out with Robert Griffin III and Adrian Peterson in the hopes of giving the NFL one last shot as a slot receiver, while also returning to Texas to finish his degree and working as a wide receiver's coach at St. Andrew's High School.

Centex Cavalry On March 30, 2017, Taylor was signed by the CenTex Cavalry of Champions Indoor Football, which was about a month into the season. For the Cavalry he continued to return kicks, play defense, catch and run the ball, but he played more quarterback than any of the other offensive positions. He went 22 for 43 for 314 yards passing with 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He also ran for 96 yards and 7 touchdowns on 34 attempts and had 47 yards receiving with 0 touchdowns on 6 receptions. As a kickoff returner he had 648 return yards and 1 touchdown on 32 returns. He even played kicker in one game sending both of his kickoffs out of bounds. The Cavalry went winless that season, did not make the playoffs and was shut down at the end of the season.

Later life After his football career, Taylor moved into coaching.