2005 Football Roster
Kareen Taylor
- Position:
- Defensive Back
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 195
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Hopewell, VA
- High School:
- Hopewell/Fork Union M.A.
• 2006 All-ACC Candidate
• Sporting News No. 14 free safety in the nation
Enters his third year as a starter in the secondary • Has made several spectacular plays over the last two seasons, including interception returns for touchdowns against Maryland (2005) and Duke (2004) • Has made 15 consecutive starts.
2005 - Junior Season
Started all 11 games at safety • Finished third on the team with 61 tackles and had 4.5 tackles for losses of 24 yards, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions for 46 yards, two pass breakups and one forced fumble • Had four tackles, one sack and a 47-yard interception return at Virginia Tech • Posted seven tackles, had a seven-yard sack and broke up a pass against Duke • The pass breakup led to an interception by Trimane Goddard • Had 11 tackles and a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown against Maryland • His two career interceptions both went for touchdowns (Duke 2004 and Maryland 2005) • Posted five tackles, all solo, in the win over Boston College • Had five tackles against Miami • Registered his first solo sack of his career on a key third-down play in the fourth quarter of the win over Virginia • Virginia had the ball third-and-10 at the UNC 38 with five minutes to play when Taylor sacked UVA quarterback Marquis Hagans • Posted four tackles against the Cavaliers • Topped all Tar Heel tacklers with seven stops against Louisville, including a 1-yard tackle for loss • Forced a fumble and had two tackles against Utah • Had just one tackle, but broke up a pass against NC State • Started at free safety and posted eight tackles at Georgia Tech • Tied for team-high honors against Wisconsin with eight tackles • Also assisted on a sack with linebacker Larry Edwards.
2004 - Sophomore Season
Tied for second on the team with 67 tackles, including 36 primary stops and 31 assists • Also had three tackles for losses, two pass breakups, one interception and one fumble recovery • Posted one tackle in limited time due to an ankle injury in the Continental Tire Bowl vs. Boston College • Intercepted his first career pass and raced 64 yards for the final touchdown in Carolina's 40-17 victory over Duke • Made a game-high seven tackles, including a tackle for loss, against the Blue Devils • Had four primary tackles in the victory at Wake Forest •Posted eight tackles against Virginia Tech • Started and assisted on four tackles in the win over No. 4 Miami • Had nine tackles at Utah • Had a game-high 13 tackles against NC State and recovered a fumble on the Wolfpack's last possession • Had eight primary stops and five assists against NC State • Started against FSU and had seven tackles (four primary, three assists), including a 1-yard tackle for loss • Did not start against Louisville and had four primary tackles and one pass breakup • Made his first career start in the win over Georgia Tech • Moved into the free safety position against the Yellow Jackets after playing the first two games as the nickel back • Posted four tackles against Georgia Tech • Had five tackles at Virginia, including a 1-yard tackle for loss • Posted one tackle against William & Mary.
2003 - Freshman Season
One of 12 true freshmen to see playing time • Played in 11 of 12 games, primarily on special teams, and as a reserve safety • Played on most of Carolina's special teams units • Made tackles against Syracuse and Georgia Tech.
Hopewell High School/Fork Union M.A.
Spent two seasons at Fork Union Military Academy after graduating from Hopewell High School •Recorded 44 sacks at Fork Union playing linebacker and safety • Blocked 12 punts • Had 27 sacks as a linebacker his junior season • Was voted Fork Union's MVP as a junior and senior •Coached by John Shuman at Fork Union • Coached by Marshall Parker at Hopewell.
Personal
Born Kareen Taylor on January 10, 1982 • Likes to fish • Favorite NFL team is Tennessee • Favorite athlete is Ken Griffey Jr. • Favorite former UNC player is Lawrence Taylor • Says the best word to describe him is "creative" • Says the best thing about Carolina is the "fans" • Sociology major.afety • Could also be used as the nickel defensive back or cornerback • Earned "Iron Ram" status in the weight room this spring.
Year Pri A Total TFL SACKS INT PBU FF FR 2003 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0-0 2004 36 31 67 3.0-8 0-0 1-64 2 0 1-0 2005 39 22 61 4.5-24 3.5-23 2-46 2 1 0-0 TOTALS 77 53 130 7.5-32 3.5-23 2-89 4 1 1-0
