
Mike Taylor gives Missouri State a steady nose tackle with snap-eating toughness
In the 2026 season, Mike Taylor stands out as a reliable, interior defensive presence for Missouri State, with the Bears listing him as a 6-foot-4, 274-pound defensive tackle and noting he started nine games at nose tackle in his first season in the program. His value is the kind coaches love: sturdy, assignment-sound, and durable enough to hold down the middle rather than chase highlight-reel numbers. If you want a plug-in-the-gap DT who can anchor the run and help stabilize a defense, he looks like a solid fit; if you need a flashy stat-sheet wrecking ball, he’s more blue-collar than buzzsaw.