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Who is Maria Taylor?
Maria Taylor is a journalist, sports analyst, reporter, and host. Maria Taylor currently works for NBC Sports and is one such journalist who is following in the footsteps of many who came before her.
Taylor also reported for ESPN2 on Saturday-night primetime college football telecasts as well as the Orange Bowl for the past two years.
Childhood, Education, and Parents
Maria Taylor was born on May 12, 1987, in Alpharetta, Georgia, to parents Suzette and Steve Taylor.
Furthermore, it is clear that the analyst is an American citizen and a proud African-American woman.
Taylor also went to Centennial High School and has been a big sports fan since she was a kid.
Maria made it a point to pursue her passions after being accepted to Centennial, and she was fairly successful in doing so.
Similarly, the African-American has a slew of awards and recognitions to prove that she was a natural at it.
Taylor, for example, was named to the Atlanta Tip-Off Team of the Year, was named a Fulton County Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and was a three-time All-Region pick.
She was also named Offensive MVP in high school and had an All-State selection during her senior year.
Maria was named to the USA Volleyball Junior National A2 Team in 2004 as a result of her outstanding athletic achievements.
These accomplishments eventually helped her secure a graduate athletic scholarship at the University of Georgia.
Similarly, the Alpharetta native continued to play basketball and volleyball at the University, earning All-SEC volleyball honors during her time there.
Taylor continued to play for the US Volleyball Junior A2 squad during her time at the campus. Maria was fourth in the number of careers kills with 1729 and overall points with 2020 as her college career drew to a close.
Despite not pursuing a professional career, her love of athletics evolved into a career as an analyst, which is likely why the Georgian is so precise and articulate as a reporter.
Age, Height, and Body Size
Maria Taylor is currently 34 years old, having been born in 1987.
Moving on, Maria is a tall lady, standing at 6feet 2inches (1.88 m) and easily towering above her coworkers.
It’s no surprise that she excelled in college volleyball and basketball, owing to her enormous stature.
Similarly, the sports analyst is a healthy 60 kg (132 lb) with 36-inches of breast, 24-inches of the waist, and 36-inches of hips.
The Georgian, obviously, falls under the hourglass category.
Facts of Maria Taylor
| Full Name | Suzette Maria Taylor |
| Birth Date | May 12, 1987 |
| Birth Place | Alpharetta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Nick Name | Maria |
| Religion | Undefined |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Education | Centennial High School; University of Georgia |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Father’s Name | Steve Taylor |
| Mother’s Name | Suzette Taylor |
| Siblings | None |
| Age | 34 Years Old |
| Height | 6’2″ (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 60 kg (132 lb) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Body Measurement | 36-24-36 inches |
| Figure | Hourglass |
| Married | Yes |
| Husband | Rodney Blackstock |
| Children | None |
| Profession | Sports Analyst, Host |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| Salary | $87,885 |
| Affiliations | ESPN, SEC Network |
| Active Since | 2009 |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
| Merch | Mic |
| Last Update | April 2022 |
Net Worth & Income
Maria Taylor has acquired a staggering $2 million net worth. The African-American sportscaster worked for ESPN during her career, thus she most certainly made a good living.
According to reports, Taylor earns an average annual salary of $87,885 every year.
Furthermore, her salary was significantly increased upon contract renewal, implying that her net worth will increase in a few years.
In addition, her coverage of women’s sports and other channels may increase her earnings. Maria, meantime, is reportedly paid $100,000 per year as a sideline reporter under an agreement with ESPN.
Most significantly, the Georgian enjoys a lavish lifestyle, which she is able to afford thanks to her lucrative salary.
Maria, on the other hand, is as generous as they come. To put it another way, the sportscaster participates in a variety of charitable activities from time to time.
Professional Career
Maria worked as a reporter for IMG College during her college years before landing a huge job.
Meanwhile, the soon-to-be sportscaster appeared on SEC Men’s Basketball Tonight, Sports Nite, and Dawg Report as a guest.
Taylor also reported for ESPN2 on Saturday-night primetime college football telecasts as well as the Orange Bowl for the past two years.
Aside from that, the Alpharetta native worked as a broadcaster for NCAA Women’s Basketball Shows and Tournaments.
Maria’s fame grew as a result of her ability to handle all that was thrown at her, and several media firms wanted to sign her.
In addition, in 2014, she was hired as a college football reporter by the SEC Network. Taylor handled her hosting duties with grace alongside Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer.
She then had the option to fill in as a commentator for other programs, including women’s volleyball and basketball.
In 2014, the Georgia-based sportscaster agreed to join ESPN’s College Gameday section as a reporter and host, taking the place of Samantha Ponder.
Taylor was also covering the Georgia-Oklahoma University playoffs at the same time.
In 2018, she was also given the honor of hosting the College Football Playoff National Championship game between Alabama and Georgia.
Apart from that, Taylor enjoys working as a sideline reporter for the ABC network, where he covers Saturday Night Football games with the help of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit.
To give you an example, Maria had an interview with Alabama coach Nick Saban while covering Alabama’s 51-14 win over Louisville.
Maria interrogated Saban about his quarterbacks, Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, as the interview progressed.
Saban, on the other hand, had a fiery retort that made the program awkward.
Despite the fact that Taylor was elegant and moved on to the other questions quickly and cheerfully, Nick Saban was disgusted at that moment, when a few minutes of conversation grew.
Overall, Nick Saban expressed regret for his approach against Taylor. Taylor reportedly said she was fine with it on “The Paul Finebaum Show” as well.
Husband & Wedding | Relationship Status
Maria Taylor is a married lady. Rodney Blackstock is the man who has succeeded to win the lovely journalist’s heart.
Similarly, the two met for the first time in 2014 while watching the Charlotte Hornets play. Rodney also tried to strike up a discussion.
Simultaneously, the two exchanged phone numbers and began messaging often. None of them realized they were falling in love.
Taylor stated at one point that she felt weak in the knees and got a “that’s the one” feeling when she first saw him.
Rodney and Maria began dating following that, and eight months later, the former proposed to Maria. For the sportscaster, it was a no-brainer.
They were supposed to marry in June 2016, but they both felt that things were going too quickly and that wedding bells would have to wait.
Rodney planned a romantic proposal with a flower-embellished halo ring while on a trek someplace in Los Angeles. She said yes this time and was ready to take the first step toward a happy married life.
Finally, on May 5, 2019, the couple was united in holy matrimony in a romantic setting overlooking the ocean at the Hilton Sandestin in Destin, Florida.
Maria, too, looked stunning in an all-white wedding gown designed by Eve of Milady.
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Presence on Social Media
She has 290k followers on Instagram (@mariataylor), 289.9k followers on Twitter (@MariaTaylor), and 53k Facebook fans.
