Wendell Taylor was the second Lion football player to be named All-American when he was selected for the NAIA-Helms Foundation All-American team in 1955. He became the first 1,000-yard rusher during a single season in school history with 1,021 yards on 196 carries in 1955, averaging 5.2 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns. He set the school single-season rushing record with 964 yards on 166 carries and 13 touchdowns in 1954 until he broke his own mark the next season.
He scored 21 touchdowns and rushed for 1,985 yards on 362 carries in his junior and senior seasons and he remained as the Lions career rushing leader until 1971. Among his top career games were seven games of 100 yards rushing or more, including four in 1954 and three in 1955. In 1954 he had 211 yards on 34 carries against East Tennessee State. He followed in 1955 with 137 yards on 22 carries against Livingston, 134 yards against Troy State on 22 carries and 106 yards on 21 carries against Tennessee Tech. Nicknamed "Whirlaway", this native of Bridgeport, Ala., was selected as a permanent team captain for the 1955 season with Paul Dyar.
During his four seasons with the Lions from 1952-55, Taylor played on squads with a combined 29-7-1 record and a perfect 12-0 slate against state rivals, Livingston, Troy State and Jacksonville State. He was named to the 50th Anniversary UNA Football Team for 1949-98. He was selected to the Times Daily's First Forty Years Football Team in 1988 and was selected to the All-Decade team for 1949-58. He also lettered in baseball for the Lions in 1953 and 1954.
Taylor received his B.S. degree from Florence State in 1956 in Marketing. He is now retired after more than 30 years with Reynolds Metals Company and lives in Florence.
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