As a sophomore, Taylor was one of the "Wow Boys" on the undefeated 1940 Stanford Indians football team and played in Stanford's 1941 Rose Bowl victory over Nebraska. As a senior in 1942, he was an All-American guard. By coaching his team to the 1952 Rose Bowl, Taylor became the first person to have participated in the Rose Bowl both as a player and a head coach; only six other men have accomplished this feat since Taylor.