Nebraska Football: A Historical Kind of Husker Quarterback Battle

Dec 6, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback coach Zac Taylor looks on before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback coach Zac Taylor looks on before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
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2. Zac Taylor

Say what you will about the Bill Callahan era, it introduced Nebraska football fans to some quality quarterbacks. Current Los Angeles Rams assistant wide receivers coach Zac Taylor was one.

The beginning of Taylor’s college career was pretty bad as he completed the single pass he threw as a Wake Forest Demon Deacon, eventually sitting out his sophomore year. Once he got to Nebraska, his luck would quickly turn around.

Taylor would end up having a Ferragamo-like metamorphosis as he completed 55.1 percent of his throws during his junior year. However, he was in even more of a pass-heavy system. As a result, he ended up with 2,653 yards to his name in addition to 19 touchdowns, but 12 interceptions haunted his throws.

In 2006, he would truly break out as he amassed 3,197 passing yards. While that in and of itself is impressive, despite playing two more games than in 2005, he threw 39 fewer passes and ended up with a 59.6 completion percentage.

As the cherry on top of the statistical sundae, he would finish his Nebraska career with a 26-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio as a senior.

He had a brief pro career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, but his future appears to be in coaching. While currently with the Rams as previously mentioned, he spent several years teaching Miami Dolphins quarterbacks.

He also held the offensive coordinator title before leaving for one year to head back to the college ranks at Cincinnati in the same capacity before his return to the NFL.

Suffice it to say a few folks in coaching circles feel he has a noggin for quarterbacking.