Over his time at the school he set school and single season passing records.
He finished 533/955 for 6,999 yards, 49 TDs to 24 picks, along with 757 rushing yards.
He decided to forgo his senior season and declared for the 2019 NFL Draft.
Signed with the Buffalo Bills as an UDFA, and although he led the Bills to a comeback victory in the preseason finale, it was not enough to impress the team to keep him.
Selected in the 9th round of the XFL 20 Draft.
Saw limited playing time behind starter Cardale Jones.
Led the team to a comeback win against the Battlehawks in Week 5- shortly before the league was suspended due to COVID.
Signed with the Eagles in early ’21 and was transitioned to TE.
Fractured a bone in his back and spent 3 months on IR.
Started his first game, caught his first TD pass, and tore his ACL all in the same game.
Spent the majority of the ’22 campaign on the PUP list.
Joined the Giants practice squad in 2023.
Released with an injury designation in ’24.
Signed late in the 2024 season to the Commanders practice squad.
ACCOLADES:
2019 Senior Bowl South Team MVP
MAC Offensive Player of the Year 2018
NOTES:
Just before I was about to send this out to Tyree- he was cut by the Commanders in camp, so I was back to square one. After digging around on the internet I found a good address and gave it a try at the end of the year. He signed the two cards and sent a note thanking me for my support.
CARD: Topps XFL 2020 ACQUIRED: IP, XFL 2023 Championship Game
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Willie Beavers was a 4th round pick out of Western Michigan by the Minnesota Vikings in 2016.
Beavers has kept the dream alive and his agent busy since then, seeing tours with the Vikings, Patriots and Seahawks in 2016-’17.
After concluding his time with the Seahawks in 2018, spent a bit of time with the Bears as well that year.
After a short stint with the 9ers in 2019, played for the XFL Dallas Renegades in 2020.
Great film allowed him to return to the NFL, where Willie got practice squad for the Falcons later that year and into 2021.
Signed with the Commanders in ’22, but was injured and released.
Returned to the XFL to play with the Arlington Renegades in 2023, starting 5 contests.
NOTES:
The Renegades had just pulled off a huge upset in the XFL Championship game over the Defenders, and after the celebration at midfield, Dallas players were rightfully a combination of delirious, elated, and exhausted. Willie was slowly milling off the field, and as the throng of people around me called him over, he didn’t budge until I called him by name. He slowly ambled over took selfies and signed a card for me. I told him how much I appreciate every one of them and to keep living the dream!
CARDS: Topps XFL 2020, Sage 2015, Panini Prestige 2015 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o The Washington Commanders SENT: 8/22/22 RECEIVED: 4/1/23 (222 days) FAILURE: TTM 2020, C/o The Washington Football Club
No clue as to why I didn’t get the cards I sent out in 2020 back from Taylor. He was signing at a really good click and I guess that’s the luck of the draw right? I reloaded and waited until a better time- which appeared in 2022. He became sort of a folk hero for the Commanders over the last few years, but the team opted not to resign him after the ’22 season, so he packed his bags and headed out for Atlanta. I figured these cards were lost as well but eventually they made their way back to me.
Taylor has seen stops with the Texans, Panthers and Washington since his time as a rookie in Minnesota. In 2020 he joined the XFL and was widely expected to be a star in the young league, but got beat to the punch by Jordan Ta’Amu. Despite not seeing almost any playing time in the XFL 20, Taylor is considered one of the more ‘famous’ success stories of that league.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
