Derrick Taite

Derrick Taite
Profile
PositionQuarterback
Personal information
BornMoss Point, Mississippi, U.S.
Listed height
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight
200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolMoss Point
CollegeMississippi State (1992–1996)
NFL draft1997: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason or practice squad member only

Derrick Taite is an American former football quarterback. He ended his college football career as the all-time passing leader for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He later played professionally in several indoor football leagues.

Early life

Derrick Taite was born in Moss Point, Mississippi. He played high school football at Moss Point High School, throwing for over 3,000 yards in his last three seasons from 1988 to 1990. He threw for 19 touchdowns and over 1,500 yards as a junior in 1989, earning all-state honors. Taite scored a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown in the 1991 Mississippi-Alabama High School All-Star Game.

College career

Taite enrolled at Mississippi State University to play college football for the Bulldogs. He redshirted the 1992 season and was a four-year letterman from 1993 to 1996. He backed up Todd Jordan in 1993, completing 12 of 34 passes (35.3%) for 176 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while also rushing for one touchdown. Taite was arrested on November 7, 1993, and a charged with attempted rape after an incident at a party. In February 1994, a jury failed to indict him. Taite took over as starter in 1994. On October 22, 1994, against Tulane, he threw for a school record 466 yards. He finished the year completing 110 of 220 passes (50.0%) for 1,806 yards, 14 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while also scoring a rushing touchdown. His 16.4 yards-per-completion was the highest in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

In 1995, Taite recorded 165 completions on 309 attempts (53.4%) for 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. His 16 passing touchdowns were the most in school history although he also had the most interceptions in the SEC. In August 1996, he was one of three Mississippi State football players charged with malicious mischief after allegedly breaking a car window. The charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. In 1996, due to inconsistent play, Taite split time with redshirt freshman Matt Wyatt. On November 16, 1996, Taite led Mississippi State to a 17–16 victory over No. 8 Alabama, their third-straight victory over Alabama. He played in 39 games overall, starting 32, during his college career, completing 362 of 734 passes (49.3%) for 5,232 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions. He set school career records in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. In March 1997, Taite was arrested for marijuana possession but cleared a month later. In August 1997, it was reported that Mississippi State head coach Jackie Sherrill had paid two private investigator $5,000 a piece to help fight Taite's 1993 attemped rape charge. The Connecticut Post reported that it was unclear if this violated any NCAA rules.

Professional career

Taite signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in 1998. He was released on June 20, 1998, after the first of two preseason games.

In December 1998, Taite was drafted by the Mississippi Pride of the upstart Regional Football League. He did not report to training camp on March 22, 1999, instead signing with the Mississippi Fire Dogs of the Indoor Professional Football League. He started three games for the Firedogs in 1999 before suffering a season-ending injury.

On December 15, 1999, Taite was signed by the af2's Tennessee Valley Vipers for the 2000 season. He was a backup for the Vipers in 2000 after being beat out for the starting job by Bryan Snyder. Taite was released on May 1, 2000, after the fifth game of the season.

Taite rejoined the Fire Dogs in May 2000 as the backup to John Fourcade. Taite started some for the Fire Dogs in 2001, who were now members of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL).

Taite began the 2002 af2 season as the starting quarterback for the Florida Firecats. However, he was benched for Bryan Sparacino during the sixth game after completing less than 50% of his passes and only averaging 106.5 passing yards-per-game.

Taite began the 2003 season as the starting quarterback for the NIFL's Beaumont Drillers but later left the team.

Post-playing career

Taite was in jail from October 7, 2004, until January 2, 2009, after being sentenced on a marijuana trafficking conspiracy conviction. In the 2010s, he founded youth nonprofit groups named "Fatherless Sons" and "Moss Point’s 100 Men."

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "2014 Upper Deck Conference Greats #86 Derrick Taite". TCDb.com. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Ochs, Patrick (February 28, 2018). "This Mississippi State QB is fed up with violence in Moss Point. So he's doing something about it". Sun Herald. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jaramillo, Arthur (December 10, 1998). "Taite set to continue career with new league". The Mississippi Press. pp. 1B. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Knobler, Mike (November 9, 1993). "MSU players charged in party assault". Clarion-Ledger. p. 1. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "2023 Mississippi State Football Record Book" (PDF). Mississippi State University Athletics. 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ Knobler, Mike (October 31, 1993). "Wildcats read Bulldogs like an open book". Clarion-Ledger. pp. 7D. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Derrick Taite". Sports Reference. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Taite won't face charges". Sun Herald. February 2, 1994. pp. D1. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  9. ↑ "SEC lies in wait for No. 1 Florida". Potomac News. August 31, 1994. p. 21. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  10. ↑ Knobler, Mike (October 23, 1994). "Taite-ing care of business". Clarion-Ledger. pp. 9D. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  11. ↑ Hampton, Rusty (August 24, 1996). "MSU football stars charged with malicious mischief". Clarion-Ledger. pp. C1. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  12. ↑ "State players win judgment". The Birmingham News. October 31, 1996. pp. 4D. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Sherrill tabs Taite as starter for Egg Bowl". Enterprise-Journal. Associated Press. November 28, 1996. pp. 1B. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  14. ↑ Mashek, Jim (November 30, 1996). "More than a trophy riding on this Egg Bowl". Sun Herald. pp. C1. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Benson, Reggie (December 16, 1999). "Vipers sign former State QB". The Huntsville Times. pp. D4. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Football". Star-News. March 7, 1997. pp. 4C. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Colleges/Facing the judge". Connecticut Post. April 19, 1997. pp. D5. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  18. ↑ Rockwell, Curtis (August 28, 1997). "Document: Sherrill paid for investigators". The Mississippi Press. pp. 1A. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  19. ↑ "College/Willard leaving Pitt". Connecticut Post. August 29, 1997. pp. C10. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  20. ↑ Zurkowsky, Herb (June 21, 1998). "Cornerback Miles survives Als' first cuts". The Gazette. pp. B2. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  21. ↑ McNeece, Joel (January 7, 1999). "Mississippi Pride should hold fans interest". The Winona Times. p. 11. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  22. ↑ Goolsby, Henry (March 23, 1999). "Pride shapes up in boot camp". Clarion-Ledger. pp. 1D. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  23. ↑ Jaramillo, Arthur (March 25, 1999). "It's March but football is in the air". The Mississippi Press. pp. 2B. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  24. ↑ Stephens, Tim (March 29, 2000). "Vipers". Birmingham Post-Herald. pp. C2. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  25. ↑ Benson, Reggie (May 2, 2000). "Vipers' second-leading receiver among cuts". The Huntsville Times. pp. D1. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  26. ↑ Magandy, Kate (June 3, 2000). "Fire Dogs face test against Stallions". Sun Herald. pp. C1. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  27. ↑ Magandy, Kate (April 14, 2001). "Expect unexpected when Fire Dogs, Seagulls meet". Sun Herald. pp. D1. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  28. 1 2 Reed, Ed (December 3, 2002). "Starting QB re-signs with arena2 Firecats". News-Press. pp. 1C. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  29. 1 2 Graves, Will (May 22, 2002). "Wanted: Somebody to play quarterback". The Naples Daily News. pp. 1C. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Drillers: Derrick Taite will play quarterback". The Beaumont Enterprise. March 15, 2003. pp. 4F. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Drillers: Austin coming off a 70-51 loss to West Valley City". The Beaumont Enterprise. June 28, 2003. pp. 7D. Retrieved October 13, 2026.