2012 Season Countdown: #48 Raymon Taylor

Raymon Taylor

Name: Raymon Taylor
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 169 lbs.
High school: Highland Park (MI) Highland Park
Position: Cornerback
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #6
Last year: I ranked Taylor #66 and said he would be a backup defensive back and a special teamer.  He was both, making 2 total tackles.

Taylor made a few more waves in 2011 than most expected, stepping in for oft-injured cornerback Troy Woolfolk early in the season.  Taylor's playing time decreased as the season went along, but that's not bad for a freshman hovering below 170 lbs.  He has good speed and decent ball skills, but he's a kid who probably could have used a redshirt if Michigan had a little more depth behind the starters.

Taylor will once again be fighting for scraps in 2012.  Both starters at cornerback return, along with slot corner Courtney Avery and spring upstart Terrence Talbott.  Taylor will probably see the field as a backup in certain situations, but hopefully the starters remain healthy the entire season.  He's more likely to play field corner, but that position is held by incumbent Blake Countess, who happens to be Taylor's classmate.  And while the boundary corner will be vacated after J.T. Floyd's graduation, the coaches seem to be hoping for a bigger, more physical guy to come in and take Floyd's spot.

Prediction: Backup cornerback and special teams contributor