Shay Taylor wasn’t selected in the NFL Draft, but his playing career is not finished.
A first-team All-Ohioan at Sheridan High School before playing four years at Ohio University and another at Charlotte, is among the Kansas City Chiefs’ minicamp invitees as an undrafted free agent, Taylor confirmed to the Times Recorder on April 25.
More opportunities could arise by the end of the weekend as teams take final looks at their rosters, so Taylor could have a choice of destinations should more opportunities arise in the coming days.
It is one of the benefits of going undrafted, rather than drafted in the late rounds. Taylor said he is grateful for a chance to keep following his professional dream, something he has eyed since his early days in college.
“It feels amazing,” Taylor said via text message, shortly after learning the news. “My purpose is to give kids from Perry County hope, and to be able to do that makes me feel so fulfilled.”
The 6-3, 235-pound Taylor, an outside linebacker, was All-Mid-American Conference for the Bobcats before leaving for Charlotte with fellow Cats linebacker Kaiden Schmitz as graduate transfers prior to the 2025 season. Taylor turned down five Power 4 offers in the transfer portal that spring to follow Tim Albin and defensive coordinator Nate Faanes, his coaches at OU, to the AAC.
Faanes, also Taylor’s position coach in Athens, told the Charlotte Obrserver prior to the 2025 season that he and Schmitz “have the outwork you type of mentality that we are looking for,” adding that their growth as leaders was “awesome.”
That showed on the field.
Taylor had 64 tackles with two sacks and six quarterback hits in his lone season with the 49ers. He was second on the team with 5 1/2 tackles-for-loss.
He had 95 tackles in three years with the Bobcats, including three sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception during a MAC championship run in 2024.
Taylor said he will approach this opportunity the same he has anywhere else, “having to earn every second of every day to stay alive within the building to play the game I love.”
Taylor joins Tri-Valley grad Adam Bice and John Glenn alum Aaron Bates as Muskingum Valley League products to earn camp invites this century. Bice made the final cut with Arizona after playing offensive line at Akron, while Bates was cut in training camp with the Steelers after starring as a punter at Michigan State.
According to overthecap.com, teams usually sign between 10-20 free agents depending on the size of their draft classes and current roster sizes. The Chiefs were estimated to sign 15.
Taylor left as General LB legend
At a program renowned for producing quality linebackers, Taylor was unquestionably one of the best.
He was a two-time first-team All-Ohio pick in Division III at linebacker and was a two-way starter as a sophomore, when the Generals reached the Region 11 finals with a team dominated by upperclassmen. He was on three straight playoff teams and part of three straight MVL title.
He had a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown as a senior, when he had 71 tackles, three sacks and three INTs. His coach, Paul Culver III, called him the best coverage linebacker he had seen or coached in his career.
sblackbu@usatodayco.com; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Sheridan, OU grad Shay Taylor gets NFL invite
Reporting by Sam Blackburn, Zanesville Times Recorder / Zanesville Times Recorder
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
