Trey Taylor named Mountain West Male Athlete of the Year
8/5/2024 2:05:00 PM | Football
Air Force All-American football player Trey Taylor has been named Mountain West Male Athlete of the Year, the conference released today. The honor caps an incredible year for the 2023 Academy graduate.
Taylor, a native of Frisco, Texas, won the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back this season. He is the first-ever Thorpe Award recipient from Air Force and only the second Falcon to win a major college football award, joining Chad Hennings, 1987 Outland Trophy recipient. Taylor was named first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the first Falcon to earn first-team honors since Reggie Rembert earned the same honor from the AFCA in 2010. Taylor was also a third-team selection by the Associated Press.
A first-team all-Mountain West selection at safety, Taylor contributed 71 tackles, three interceptions, four PBUs and a first-career touchdown and recorded TFLs in four games for the Falcons. Taylor posted an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 82.6 and was credited with allowing just 18 receptions on 31 targets for an average of 10.1 yards per reception.
Taylor proved to be a leader for the Falcons by also being honored with this year's Defender of the Nation Award, given to a college football player from one of the nation's service academies based on exceptional leadership qualities, performance on and off the field, and a high standard of integrity.
Taylor was the recipient of the East-West Shrine Bowl® Pat Tillman Award. The award is presented to the player who best exemplifies character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service. Taylor participated in the East-West Shrine game at Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas.
Taylor is just the fourth Falcon to capture the Mountain West's top athletic award that encompasses all conference-sponsored sports. He is the first to win it since track and field standout Sam Gilman in 2023.
Air Force Athletes Named Mountain West Athlete of the Year
2024, Trey Taylor, football
2023, Sam Gilman, track
2021, Mahala Norris, track
2016, Patrick Corona, track
Taylor, a native of Frisco, Texas, won the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back this season. He is the first-ever Thorpe Award recipient from Air Force and only the second Falcon to win a major college football award, joining Chad Hennings, 1987 Outland Trophy recipient. Taylor was named first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the first Falcon to earn first-team honors since Reggie Rembert earned the same honor from the AFCA in 2010. Taylor was also a third-team selection by the Associated Press.
A first-team all-Mountain West selection at safety, Taylor contributed 71 tackles, three interceptions, four PBUs and a first-career touchdown and recorded TFLs in four games for the Falcons. Taylor posted an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 82.6 and was credited with allowing just 18 receptions on 31 targets for an average of 10.1 yards per reception.
Taylor proved to be a leader for the Falcons by also being honored with this year's Defender of the Nation Award, given to a college football player from one of the nation's service academies based on exceptional leadership qualities, performance on and off the field, and a high standard of integrity.
Taylor was the recipient of the East-West Shrine Bowl® Pat Tillman Award. The award is presented to the player who best exemplifies character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service. Taylor participated in the East-West Shrine game at Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas.
Taylor is just the fourth Falcon to capture the Mountain West's top athletic award that encompasses all conference-sponsored sports. He is the first to win it since track and field standout Sam Gilman in 2023.
Air Force Athletes Named Mountain West Athlete of the Year
2024, Trey Taylor, football
2023, Sam Gilman, track
2021, Mahala Norris, track
2016, Patrick Corona, track
Players Mentioned
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