02/06/2022
George Taliaferro, a star football player who led Indiana University to its only undefeated season in 1945 and who in 1949 became the first black player drafted in the NFL.
Mr. Taliaferro, A proud graduate of Roosevelt High School in Gary, Indiana in 1945 had a standout high school career in Gary, Ind., Mr. Taliaferro became one of the few black players at Indiana, where he led the Hoosiers in rushing twice and passing once. During his freshman season in 1945, he was the leading rusher on a team that went 9-0-1 and won the Big Ten championship.