For senior wide receiver Taylor Joseph, playing football at Columbia was the only natural option.  Despite the distance from his family, including his mother Carol and sister Brittany, the California native considered New York City home.
 
Growing up, Taylor spent a lot of time following his brother Sloane and his career at Columbia.  Sloane was captain of the Lions’ team in 2001. After the untimely death of his father Murray as a sophomore in high school, and his older brother Jared during his senior year, Taylor and Sloane got that much closer.  When it was time to select a college, Taylor knew exactly what he wanted to do.
 
“My brother’s friends were like family, particularly during some tough times” said Taylor.  “I had a couple of scholarship offers, but for me, Columbia the only place I even considered going.  I wanted to come here and make an impact for this program, and it was the best decision I ever made.”
 
Taylor came to Columbia in the fall of 2006 and immediately made an impression with his work ethic and dedication.  He lettered as a first-year, playing in every game and totaling 154 yards on just 12 catches.  He has had more than 350 yards each of the last two years and he has started every game in his Columbia career.
 
“Having a player like Taylor is a coach’s pleasure,” said wide receivers coach Aaron Smith.  “He works hard, he listens and he gets it.  He makes the players around him better and inspires people to elevate their game.”
 
The most notable attribute the wide receiver has is his determination.  He keeps on moving and never gives up on a play.
 
Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football Norries Wilson echoes Coach Smith’s thoughts.  “Taylor Joseph is an outstanding young man, and he has been an outstanding captain for this team.  We are proud to have him part of our program.”
 
Like a true leader, Taylor only sees his play as part of the team goal.
 
“I just want to win.  I don’t care what role I have to play, I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win,” said Taylor.  “That is the change that we’ve tried to bring to the program. Putting the team and the team goals first.  That is what we have to play for.”
 
To this day, Taylor attributes a big portion of his development as a person and player to Sloane and the Columbia Football alumni that played with his brother.
 
“Sloane’s best friends are his former teammates.  They come back to see us play and their support has been unbelievable.  My teammates and I see the alumni support all around us,” Taylor said. “It is pretty much the same for me.  I don’t have a team – I have a family.  I have brothers and won’t let my family down.”
 
Not surprisingly, the one word Taylor’s teammates use to describe him is “loyal.”  If given two words, the response changed to “fiercely loyal.”
 
His loyalty to his summer internship has paid off with a full time job as an equities analyst at Jefferies & Company.
 
“I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve gotten through Columbia Football and at Jefferies,” Taylor said.  “The plan is to work hard and take care of my mom.  I want to make sure she can relax in life.”
 
As for following in his brother’s footsteps and being named captain of the 2009 Lions, Taylor was honored by the challenge.
 
“I was very proud to be voted captain and for both my brother and I to be captain at Columbia was a tremendous honor,” Taylor said.
 
But what did Sloane have to say?
 
“He always says he’s proud of me, but he jokes all the time about us having six captains,” Taylor admitted.  “He and his friends laugh all the time about it.”
 
“It’s ok,” Taylor said.  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

–Darlene Camacho