Recruiting Areas – Northern and Western Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Hawaii
Jerry Taylor, Jr. begins his fifth year on the Columbia football staff after he was hired on March 16, 2019, to coach the Lions’ wide receivers.
Taylor has served in similar positions at William & Mary, Dartmouth, Virginia State, Saint Francis, Pa. and the Buffalo Bills. He arrived at Columbia after having spent the 2018-19 season as the wide receivers coach at William & Mary College.
Under Taylor’s tutelage, Bryson Canty emerged as a First Team All-Ivy Leaguer in 2022 after registering 733 yards and six touchdowns. Additionally, Marcus Libman and JJ Jenkins each had over 35 catches and 400+ receiving yards as the unit doubled its yard production (2,144 yards) from the 2021 campaign.
During the 2021 season, Columbia’s wideouts snatched 103 receptions for 1,222 yards, adding seven touchdown receptions. The corps was led in receptions by Marcus Libman, who finished with 33 and he tied with Ernest Robertson for the most receiving yards on the team, with both Lions collecting 280 yards on the year. Wills Meyer, Mike Roussos, and Bryson Canty all tied for the lead in touchdown receptions, with each grabbing two during the season.
In 2019, Columbia wide receivers combined for 129 receptions for 1,445 yards and nine touchdown receptions. Josh Wainwright led the Lions in receptions (46), receiving yards (571), and touchdown receptions (five), while Mike Roussos added 35 catches for 395 yards. The Lions wideouts experienced injuries as Ronald Smith and Emerson Kabus both were sidelined for long stretches of the year.
Under legendary head coach Jimmye Laycock at William & Mary in 2018, Taylor coached the wide receivers where he helped Devonte Dedmon to his third All-CAA selection. Dedmon ranked fifth in the league in receiving yards per game (67.2), finished seventh in receptions per game (4.44), posted three 100-yard receiving games and led W&M in catches (40), receiving yards (605) and touchdowns (67.2). One of the program's all-time greats, Dedmon finished his career ranked among the Tribe's career top 10 in all-purpose yards (3,825), touchdown catches (20), receptions (152) and kick return yards (1,364). The Tribe finished 4-6 overall and 3-4 in the CAA.
Before his stint at William & Mary, he worked a combined four years at Dartmouth as Wide Receivers Coach and Recruiting Coordinator (three seasons) and Offensive Quality Control Coach (one year). He was instrumental in the success of Dartmouth’s wide receivers, as at least one member of his position group garnered All-Ivy League honors during all three of his seasons leading the unit. Ryan McManus (first team) and Victor Williams (second team) combined for 111 receptions for 1,443 yards in 2015, while Hunter Hagdorn was honored as the 2016 Ivy League Rookie of the Year. Hagdorn also garnered second-team all-conference honors in 2016 and 2017. In addition to helping Dartmouth capture the 2015 Ivy League title with a 9-1 record, the program’s first in 19 years, Taylor helped the Big Green compile a 29-11 overall record and an 18-10 mark in conference play.
During his stint at Dartmouth, Taylor also served a summer internship with the Buffalo Bills during preseason camp in 2016 and worked with the organization’s wide receivers under head coach Rex Ryan.
Before joining the Big Green staff, Taylor spent the 2013 season as the Wide Receivers Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Virginia State. During Taylor’s season with the Trojans, Virginia State finished with a 9-1 overall with a perfect 7-0 conference record. The Trojans won the 2013 CIAA Northern Division Championship.
Taylor is a 2012 graduate of Averett University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. He played one season of college football at Bowie State before being forced to stop playing due to an illness. Taylor and his wife are Richmond, Va. natives. Taylor has been around the game of football all of his life as his father served as a high school, college and semipro football referee for over 20 years.
THE JERRY TAYLOR FILE
Hometown: Richmond, Va.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, Averett University, 2012
Coaching Career
Wide Receivers Coach, Columbia University, 2019-current
Wide Receivers Coach, William & Mary College, 2018-19
Wide Receivers Coach, Recruiting Coordinator, Dartmouth College, 2015-18
Bill Walsh Internship Coaching Program/Wide Receivers, Buffalo Bills, Summer 2016
Offensive Quality Control Coach, Dartmouth College, 2014-15
Wide Receivers Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Virginia State University, 2013-14
Tight Ends Coach, Saint Francis University, Pa., 2012-13
Graduate Assistant, University of Richmond, 2011-12
Playing Career
Played one season at Bowie State University in Maryland before being forced to stop playing due to illness … Because of the illness, started coaching … Talented quarterback at Lee-Davis High School in Mechanicsville, Va.
