ANN ARBOR — Ideally, Joe Taylor would never do the thing he loves most on a football field. The Michigan fifth-year senior is closing in on a school record that illustrates his sacrifice, selflessness and skill. During Saturday’s game against Northwestern, Taylor will almost certainly become Michigan’s all-time leader in special teams snaps.

He starts on four different units, but his favorite means Michigan’s offense failed and has sent out the punt team.

“I still love the challenge of just beating the guy across from me,” Taylor said last week. “It’s more so like, ‘I’m going to beat you at the line of scrimmage, I’m going to run away from you and I’m going to go make the play.’”

Looking at Taylor, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound former walk-on, you wouldn’t guess he was one of the most important players for a top-25 team. The way his teammates and coaches talk about him, though, it’s clear he is. The Chelsea native has won three Big Ten titles and helped the Wolverines win the 2023 national championship. How? There’s “hidden yardage” to be won or lost on special teams and Taylor does his best to swing the advantage in Michigan’s favor.

“He takes a lot of pride in what he does,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said. “And the team takes a lot of pride in Joe T.”

Take the three tackles he made against TCU in a playoff semifinal. Or when he popped Oregon’s returner and caused a fumble in last year’s game against the No. 1 Ducks. Or how about earlier this season when he sprinted ahead of the pack and tackled Oklahoma’s return man a moment after the ball had hit his hands, forcing another fumble that Michigan also recovered.

Those are just the highlights. Most of the time, his contributions go unnoticed by the average observer. Opponents know to double team No. 39 when he’s the gunner on punts, yet he still finds ways to make plays. He’s been used as a punt and kick returner, reliable if not explosive. Taylor was named Michigan’s special teams player of the year in 2024 and was voted as an alternate captain before this season.

It’s a remarkable journey for a guy who wasn’t sure he’d ever see the field at Michigan — at least not the football field. Taylor initially committed to play baseball for the Wolverines, but an arm injury caused him to reconsider.

As a freshman in 2021, he saw a potential path to playing time through special teams. “I really had no direction of where I was going,” Taylor said. “I just knew to work. And that’s all I did for about a year and eventually it paid off.” He appeared in just one game as a freshman, at running back. He was a walk-on at the time and has been most of his career but is currently on scholarship. “About halfway through fall camp (in 2022),” Taylor said, “I look at the depth chart and I’m starting on three phases on special teams.”

If he plays two special-teams snaps against Northwestern (noon ET, FOX), he will reach 887 for his career and pass Jordan Glasgow for the most in Michigan history.

It’s fitting the record could come at Wrigley Field given Taylor’s baseball background. He said he’s been there for a few Cubs games but knows Saturday’s experience will be much different.

“It’s cool,” Taylor said about the record. “Definitely not like a huge motivator. … It’s cool to have that on your résumé as a player here at Michigan. But I’m just kind of focused on the season, going 1-0 every week.”

Glasgow, who followed his brothers Graham and Ryan to Michigan, also began his career as a walk-on. A starting linebacker as a fifth-year senior in 2019, Glasgow was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round and played two seasons there.

Taylor has never spoken with Glasgow, but he’s familiar with what he did at Michigan. “He’s on all our teach tapes for drills and games,” Taylor said. He’d heard that Glasgow never missed a practice and was never late for a meeting or weightlifting session, which Taylor found incredible. Taylor said he has never been late for a meeting or lift but has missed a few practices because of injuries.

Potentially surpassing someone like Glasgow is extra meaningful, Taylor said. “To get that record is something that I’m definitely going to be grateful for and proud of.”

Michigan has kept snap counts since 2012, a data set that includes almost 400 players. While that still leaves many former Wolverines unaccounted for, a program spokesperson noted that given Taylor’s 50 career games it’s a near certainty that he will be the true record holder.

“He’s extremely special,” Michigan specials teams coach J.B. Brown said on Michigan’s radio show Monday night. “He’s like family to me. … He’s been that consistent player that you’ve always wanted. He’s a coach’s dream in that sense, where he knows exactly what to do, what’s happening in front of him. He’s a coach on the field.”

Michigan (7-2, 5-1) has had some special teams issues this season, with four missed field goals (compared to just one last season), miscues on punt and punt return, and a lack of big plays in the return game. Grading models are very mixed on the Wolverines’ overall special teams performance: ESPN ranks them 101 out of 136 teams while Pro Football Focus has them at 13th.

“The spotlight’s a little bit bigger on special teams because you really get one shot,” Taylor said. “You’re not out there for a series of plays. You’re out there for one play and then you’re off the field.”

Taylor, a wide receiver, has played minimal offensive snaps over his career. He has one offensive touch, a 9-yard reception that included a nifty run after the catch in last season’s bowl win over Alabama. He’s returned one punt and seven kickoffs in his career and has 19 tackles.

“Obviously it’s a fast game,” Taylor said about the various punt and kickoff units. “You’re dealing with a lot of good athletes. The returners are the best athletes on the team. There’s a reason why they’re back there. You’ve got to win your one-on-one and then eventually you got to deal with the returner.”

Catching kicks isn’t easy either. It involves not just the physical aspect but lots of film study. Taylor embraces all of it. He’s not a star on Saturdays but he can be counted on when he takes the field. It’s no wonder Michigan’s coaches keep sending him out there.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.