Blaise Taylor Biography, Age, Height, Parents, Career, Arkansas State Football, Titans Scout, Murder Trial, Net Worth & Facts

Blaise Taylor is a former Arkansas State football star, Tennessee Titans scout, and college football analyst whose life took a dramatic turn from celebrated scholar-athlete to accused double murderer. Once hailed as the only FBS player in the nation to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree before his senior season, Taylor now stands trial in Nashville for the alleged poisoning deaths of his pregnant girlfriend and their unborn child—a case that has gripped national headlines and cast a shadow over his once-promising career in football.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Blaise Taylor was born on March 22, 1996, in Waco, Texas, into a family deeply rooted in college football. He is the son of Trooper Taylor, a longtime and widely known college football coach who has served on staffs at Auburn, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, and Texas A&M, and Dr. Evelyn Taylor. He has one sister, Starr Taylor, who played women’s basketball at Arkansas State.

Because of his father’s coaching career, Taylor attended Auburn High School in Auburn, Alabama, while Trooper coached at Auburn University under head coach Gene Chizik. At Auburn High, Taylor was a versatile athlete, earning Class 6A All-State recognition as a cornerback, receiver, running back, and return specialist. He helped lead the Tigers to their first-ever state championship game appearance in 2013 and was ranked as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, ESPN, and 247Sports.

Taylor enrolled at Arkansas State University in 2014, where his father was serving as cornerbacks coach. What followed was one of the most decorated academic and athletic careers in school history.

Career Journey

Arkansas State Football (2014–2017)

Blaise Taylor arrived at Arkansas State as a mid-year signee and immediately made an impact. He played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2014, primarily as a reserve defensive back and return specialist. By the end of his career, he had started four years, served as team captain, and established himself as one of the most prolific return men in Sun Belt Conference history.

His career statistics include 88 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 23 pass break-ups, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. He earned all-conference recognition in 2014 and 2016 and was named Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week multiple times.

Taylor holds Arkansas State career records for punt return yards (1,089–1,151, depending on source) and ranks second all-time in the Sun Belt Conference in that category. His four punt returns for touchdowns also rank second in league history. He holds four of the top-10 single-game punt return yardage marks in school history and three of the top-10 seasonal marks.

Academic Excellence and National Honors

What separated Taylor from his peers was his extraordinary academic performance. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in August 2016—just two and a half years after enrolling. He then earned his Master of Business Administration in August 2017 with a 3.82 GPA, becoming the only FBS player in the nation to hold both degrees before the start of his true senior season.

His academic honors are extensive: Chancellor’s List, Dean’s List, Athletics Director’s Honor Roll, Sun Belt Commissioner’s List, Top 10 junior in the College of Business, Strong-Turner 3.0 Society Award, and one of only eight students to receive Arkansas State’s prestigious Distinguished Service Award in 2017. He was named a 2017 NFF National Scholar-Athlete (one of only 13 in the nation), a William V. Campbell Trophy finalist, a Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist, and the 2018 Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sports Scholar of the Year—the first Arkansas State student-athlete ever to win that national honor.

In recognition of his achievements, Arkansas State named its inaugural MBA Graduate Award of Distinction after him in 2018.

Tennessee Titans and Coaching Career

After graduating, Taylor transitioned into professional football as a scout for the Tennessee Titans, working in the pro scouting department in Nashville. He later moved into college coaching, joining Utah State as a senior defensive analyst for the 2023 season under former Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson.

In 2024, Taylor was listed as an analyst at Texas A&M, where his father had been hired as associate head coach and running backs coach under new head coach Mike Elko. Following his arrest in March 2024, Texas A&M suspended him pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.

Personal Life

Family and Upbringing

Taylor grew up moving between college towns as his father advanced through the coaching ranks. Despite the transient lifestyle, he maintained strong academic discipline and athletic focus. His family remains prominent in college football circles, with his father Trooper currently serving on the Texas A&M staff.

Relationships

Taylor was in a relationship with Jade Benning, a 25-year-old Nashville woman, in early 2023. Benning was approximately five months pregnant at the time of her death, and Taylor is believed to have been the father. The couple’s relationship and the circumstances of Benning’s death form the basis of the ongoing murder trial.

At trial, another ex-girlfriend, Apple Dennie, testified that in 2017, Taylor had discussed obtaining abortion pills and putting one in another woman’s drink without her knowledge.

Controversies and Legal Case

The Death of Jade Benning

On February 25, 2023, Taylor called 911 from Benning’s Lebanon Pike apartment in Nashville, telling dispatchers that Benning appeared to be having an allergic reaction and needed paramedics. Benning was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where her condition immediately became critical.

Benning’s five-month-old unborn child died on February 27, 2023. Benning herself died on March 6, 2023—her 25th birthday—without ever regaining consciousness or being able to speak with police.

Arrest and Charges

Following months of investigation by Nashville police homicide detectives, crime laboratory scientists, and the Medical Examiner’s Office, a grand jury indicted Taylor on March 27, 2024, on two counts of first-degree murder. He was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Logan, Utah, on March 14, 2024, and extradited to Nashville to face charges.

Prosecutors allege that Taylor poisoned Benning without her knowledge while visiting her apartment on the night she was hospitalized. The indictment covers both Benning’s death and the death of her unborn child.

The Trial (2026)

Taylor’s murder trial began in June 2026 in Nashville. Over the course of the proceedings, prosecutors presented testimony from Benning’s friends and family, who described her as excited to become a mother. The defense called its own witnesses after the prosecution rested its case.

The trial has drawn significant media attention due to Taylor’s football pedigree, his father’s prominence in college coaching, and the shocking nature of the allegations. As of July 2026, the case remains open and ongoing.

Awards & Achievements

• NFF National Scholar-Athlete (2017) — One of 13 in the nation
• William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist (2017)
• Wuerffel Trophy Semifinalist (2017)
• Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sports Scholar of the Year (2018) — First Arkansas State recipient
• Distinguished Service Award — Arkansas State University (2017)
• Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee (2017)
• Senior CLASS Award Candidate (2017)
• Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Nominee (2017)
• Hornung Award Watch List (2017)
• Two-Time Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference (Return Specialist)
• Arkansas State Career Records: Punt return yards, passes defended
• Sun Belt Conference Records: Second all-time in punt return yards and punt return touchdowns
• MBA Graduate Award of Distinction Named in His Honor (2018)

Physical Statistics

Quotes

“It is a big honor and very humbling. I was so surprised and thankful that someone would think I would win this award, let alone name it after me. I came to Arkansas State like every other student to study and get my education. After everything that has happened, it’s crazy to look back now. I am so surprised. It is a blessing and I am truly grateful.” — On the MBA award named in his honor

“I would advise students to understand that they should take full advantage of the opportunities they have in college. We have a great faculty at Arkansas State like Dr. Roe who will go the extra mile to help follow their dreams.”

Favorites

• College: Arkansas State University
• Degree Program: Business Administration / MBA
• Community Causes: At-risk youth, Success Academy alternative school, Special Olympics, Autism Walks
• Non-Profit: “The Power of 1 or 2” (co-founded with sister Starr Taylor)
• Study Abroad: London, summer 2017
• Religious Affiliation: Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Word Campus Church

Earnings

Taylor’s financial details have not been made public. His earnings as a scout and analyst were likely modest compared to coaching salaries, though his family has maintained a comfortable lifestyle through his father’s long coaching career.

Interesting Facts

• Taylor is the only FBS player in history believed to have earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree before the start of his true senior season.
• He graduated magna cum laude in just two and a half years while playing Division I football.
• He holds Arkansas State’s career record for punt return yards and the Sun Belt record for passes defended.
• He and his sister Starr created a non-profit called “The Power of 1 or 2” to work with underprivileged children.
• He participated in a study abroad trip to London in the summer of 2017.
• While at Auburn High School, he filed a federal lawsuit claiming discrimination over his hairstyle—a case that made headlines before his college career began.
• He was arrested in Utah and extradited to Tennessee to face murder charges.
• His trial has been covered by Court TV and major national outlets due to the sensational nature of the allegations.

Did You Know Already?

• Blaise Taylor’s father, Trooper Taylor, is one of college football’s most recognizable coaches, known for his energetic style and towel-waving on sidelines.
• The Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar award Taylor won is one of the nation’s top honors for NCAA student-athletes.
• Taylor was a team captain all four years at Arkansas State, a rare feat for a true freshman mid-year enrollee.
• The indictment against Taylor includes two counts of first-degree murder: one for Jade Benning and one for her unborn child.
• Prosecutors allege Taylor used poison, though specific details of the substance have been closely held during the investigation.

Social Media Links

• Arkansas State Athletics: astateredwolves.com
• Texas A&M Athletics: 12thman.com

Note: Blaise Taylor does not appear to maintain active public social media profiles. Any previous accounts have likely been deactivated or made private following his arrest.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Blaise Taylor?
Blaise Taylor was born on March 22, 1996, making him 30 years old as of 2026.

What is Blaise Taylor accused of?
Taylor is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the alleged poisoning deaths of his pregnant girlfriend, Jade Benning, and their unborn child in February and March 2023.

Who is Blaise Taylor’s father?
His father is Trooper Taylor, a longtime college football coach currently serving as associate head coach and running backs coach at Texas A&M.

Where did Blaise Taylor play college football?
Taylor played cornerback and served as a return specialist and team captain at Arkansas State University from 2014 to 2017.

What degrees does Blaise Taylor hold?
He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (magna cum laude) in 2016 and a Master of Business Administration (3.82 GPA) in 2017, both from Arkansas State.

Did Blaise Taylor play in the NFL?
Taylor did not play professional football. He worked as a scout for the Tennessee Titans after his college career before moving into college football analytics.

What awards did Blaise Taylor win in college?
He was a 2017 NFF National Scholar-Athlete, William V. Campbell Trophy finalist, Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist, and the 2018 Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sports Scholar of the Year.

Conclusion

Blaise Taylor’s story is one of stark contrasts: a young man who reached the pinnacle of academic and athletic achievement, only to face allegations that have completely altered the trajectory of his life. From the football fields of Jonesboro to a courtroom in Nashville, his case serves as a sobering reminder that public accomplishments and private actions can exist in profound tension. As the justice system runs its course, the full truth of what happened to Jade Benning and her unborn child remains to be determined.

If you found this biography informative, please share it with others following the case and the broader conversation around it.