Taylor appeared in 49 games the past four seasons for the Hawkeyes, averaging 46.3 yards on 295 punts, placing 127 inside-the-20 with 32 touchbacks.
He set NCAA single-season punting records last year with 4,479 yards and a 48.2-yard average. He also established career marks with a 46.3-yard average and 43 games averaging at least 40 yards per punt.
“Tory is a weapon for the whole football team,” said coach Matt Eberflus. “The punt and pins are huge. This guy is a big talent, so we’re excited to have him.”
According to Bears area scout Drew Raucina, leg strength is what makes Taylor special.
“We see him as a weapon,” Raucina said. “The way he can flip the field. He’s going to help our defense. Everything about that he’s going to help us come in here immediately and make an impact.”
Taylor grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and is 26 years old. He was the first specialist taken in this year’s draft and is the NFL’s highest drafted punter since Mitch Wishnowsky was chosen by the 49ers at No. 110 in 2019.
“There’s not many punters that are drafted high these days,” Taylor said during a Zoom call with Chicago reporters. “It’s just really an absolute honor to be a Bear. I just can’t really believe it to be honest. It’s crazy.”
Even crazier is that friends were texting Taylor that they wanted the Bears to pick him in the fourth round and he even joked with his girlfriend about the possibility.
“It’s funny, my girlfriend is from Chicago,” Taylor said. “I was like, ‘Imagine the Bears use their pick at 122,’ and then at 115 I just said it as a joke to my girlfriend. I was like, ‘Only seven picks away.'”
Daniel Miller is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. His coverage spans from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis for sports enthusiasts.
