• Trooper Taylor returns to a familiar assignment in 2006, taking over the wide receiver position for the first time at Tennessee.

• The Cuero, Texas, native is coming off two successful seasons as running backs coach.

• He first led Cedric Houston and Gerald Riggs Jr. to become Tennessee's only pair of 1,000-yard rushers in the same season, then coached Arian Foster to one of the best freshman campaigns in UT history last year.

• Taylor accepted the appointment to assistant head coach for player development in 2005.

• The 36-year-old manages the academic and social direction and development of student-athletes in conjunction with their position coaches and the coordinators.

• Foster returns for 2006 after gaining 879 yards and earning consensus Freshman All-SEC honors. David Yancey, is back, joining Montario Hardesty and LaMarcus Coker as additional tailback candidates. Senior Cory Anderson and junior David Holbert are slated for fullback duty.

• Taylor came to Knoxville after a five-year stint coaching receivers at Tulane.

• He coached four wideouts into the NFL during his tenure in New Orleans, including the nation's top receiving trio in 2001 of Adrian Burnette, Kerwin Cook and Terrell Harris. They combined to lead the country with 2,384 receiving yards on 185 catches.

• "For me, being able to coach and recruit in the SEC obviously is a coach's dream," Taylor said. "You want to be at the highest level. Everybody talks about it being the No. 1 conference in the country and you want to be a part of that."

• A 1992 Baylor University graduate, Taylor finished his playing career as the school's leader in kickoff returns (53) and return yardage (1,063).

• After helping the Bears to the 1991 Copper Bowl and completing his degree, Taylor joined the coaching staff at his alma mater for the 1992 season.

• He spent two years as a graduate assistant before being named wide receivers coach in 1994. He then coached Baylor's secondary for two years before returning to the wide receivers for one year.

• Prior to signing on at Tulane, Taylor spent the 1998 season as running backs coach at New Mexico.

• Taylor is married to the former Evi Crosby of Harbor City, Calif. He and his wife, who was a track and field scholarship athlete at Baylor, were wed in 1992 on the football playing field at Floyd Casey Stadium.

• They have a son, Blaise, and a daughter, Starr.