NFL: Elyria Catholic grad Branson Taylor says he's almost 100 percent after season-ending injury, excited for NFL chance

INDIANAPOLIS — Branson Taylor's long career at the University of Pittsburgh came to a premature end after his lateral meniscus tore Oct. 12 against California. Not before a difficult decision. The doctor told the Elyria Catholic graduate he could try to play through the injury but would eventually need surgery and the four-to-six-month recovery that follows. Out of college eligibility and with the NFL waiting, Taylor chose to have surgery. "I had to do what I had to do," the 6-foot-6, 321-pound tackle said Saturday at the scouting combine. "I was sitting there and I had to make that tough decision, but I stayed with it. I stayed with my teammates. I was there every step of the way." As the offensive linemen jumped, lifted and ran Sunday, Taylor could only watch and cheer inside Lucas Oil Stadium. He's been cleared to run full speed, declared himself 90-95 percent and expects to be ready to work out for NFL teams at Pitt's pro day later this month. "I'm nearing a hundred percent, just got kind of cleared to start sprinting and doing everything about a week ago," he said. "Rehab's been really good. I just hit that four-month (mark) about a week ago, so it's been really good." He said he could take "forever" to list the people who helped him through the injury but singled out his brother, mom and fiancée. He didn't get the full combine experience but was still enjoying it. "It's been great," he said. "It's an opportunity to show some of my knowledge, meet with some teams, and it's just been great to be around some of these great O-linemen, too." Taylor, a Lorain resident, joined Pitt in 2020 and made his first four starts in 2022 at left tackle. He opened the next season as the starting right tackle before switching to the left side. He started the first six games of 2024 at left tackle before the injury. "You got to put your head on and work for it and everything is earned, not given," he said. He was selected a captain for his final season. "I learned how to talk to people. I feel like that's what a captain does," he said. "Everyone's not going to respond the same. So you got to learn how to talk to your teammates as well as coaches. So I think it went really well." Taylor will likely be a Day 3 pick April 26, or signed as a priority free agent if he goes undrafted. Teams will consider him at either tackle spot and guard. "I'm open to play whatever," he said. "I can play whatever a team needs me to play." The internet is filled with scouting reports and mock drafts, but Taylor isn't paying attention to the speculation. "I really just try to focus on what's the task at hand," he said. "I'm trying to focus on what I am (doing) right now and I'm doing the interview right now. So this is what I was focused on this morning. "I'll be excited wherever I go or wherever I land in the draft. Or even if it's free agency, I'll be ecstatic to get an opportunity." He's been rehabbing and training at Exos Performance Training in Florida. "The rehab centers are perfect," he said. "Strength coach, speed coach, they all been working with me and it's been really good." Taylor grew up a Steelers fan because his mom's family is from Pittsburgh. Pitt and the Steelers share a training facility and stadium, so he got to spend time watching Mike Tomlin coach his favorite team. "I got to see him coach and I got to see a lot of great players, especially on the offensive line," Taylor said. "I used to go out there and right after our spring workouts or summer workouts, they'd be out there doing OTAs or rookie minicamp. So it was really good to see a professional be a pro." He said he didn't dislike the Browns as a kid — and studied Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas — and would embrace playing for the hometown team, whom he hadn't met with yet. "For sure," he said. "Wherever I go I will be very excited." Taylor needed coaxing at Elyria Catholic to join the football team and was excited to talk about those who helped him start down the road to the NFL. "They played a huge role, especially some of the coaches there," he said. "I shout out Coach (Rob) Palmer, Coach (Phil) Kuchta, Coach (Brian) Fox. Because I didn't play football my sophomore year and all three of those guys came in and talked to me and always pushed me to play football and I decided to do it and it turned out pretty well for me." Does he ever reflect on what would've happened if he hadn't played football? "I try not to think about that because I don't know where I would be," he said. "I'm just glad I did." Several years later, Taylor has a bachelor's degree in law, criminal justice and society and is happy with the decision to attend Pitt. "A hundred percent," he said. "I think I lived my Pitt life to the fullest." The combine came next in the journey to the NFL. "Being around these offensive linemen, that's the coolest part," he said. "And obviously seeing some other guys. "But being around the offensive linemen, we don't get a lot of credit throughout the game, but seeing these guys, it's really cool to just show where football is going. And this is a really talented group of offensive linemen." Contact Scott Petrak at (440) 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @scottpetrak on X.