Taylor was in Indianapolis after five years in Cincinnati, where he played 60 games as a tight end for the Bearcats and caught 69 passes for 697 yards and eight touchdowns.
“I guess that really means that I am dependable, accountable and available at all times,” he said. “It shows you that I have experience. Shows you I take care of my body and that I’m a very responsible young man.”
He could have entered the draft last year but chose to take advantage of the NCAA’s decision to grant an extra year of eligibility for those who played during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a decision he feels was beneficial.
“Most definitely,” he said. “Because I needed to develop more and I need to mature more and become a more responsible young man.”
The combine figures to offer a big opportunity for Taylor to improve his draft stock by allowing him to get to know representatives from teams across the NFL in a short amount of time. He said he would do some of the drills but save the 40-yard dash for his Pro Day back at UC later this month.
Whatever happens with football, he appears to have used his time at Cincinnati well by acquiring a multifaceted education.
“My degree is in Interdisciplinary Studies,” he said. “I have a minor in criminal justice. I got my sports coaching certificate, and I did a little bit of real estate. I think that’s pretty good for a kid from Springfield, Ohio.”
After starring on the football field and the basketball court for the Wildcats, Taylor chose Cincinnati over Kentucky, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Texas A&M in February 2018.
Here’s @_Lenny_T_20 crediting @moedouglass7_sr for helping him along this path from Springfield to @GoBearcatsFB to the NFL combine pic.twitter.com/BocBU8MvP7
— Marcus Hartman (@marcushartman) March 3, 2023
Current Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, a Wayne High School grad who was then an assistant coach at UC, helped draw Taylor to the Queen City, as did the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of NFL star tight end Travis Kelce.
But that wasn’t all. Taylor also did not want to be too far from his grandmother, Marcia Barga.
“I went to Cincinnati because of my grandmother,” he said. “My grandmother was my biggest supporter.”
She died of complications related to COVID-19 in July 2020, but Taylor said he is still driven by her memory.
“When she passed away in 2020 it crushed me, so now I’m just going to continue to make her proud,” he said. “That’s who I’m doing it for.”
He cited his parents, younger sister and friends as major current influences on his life and also credited Springfield football coach Maurice Douglass with helping him get to this point in his career.
“Thank God I listened to him and opened up my eyes and just stayed the course,” Taylor said. “Here I am today. Stayed good in school, got my degree, and I’m pretty proud of myself for that.”
Taylor has been training in Florida for the draft and doesn’t figure to be picky when it comes to future employers.
He would welcome a chance with any NFL team but confirmed he grew up watching the Bengals and now sees a potential fit with the franchise that has some holes to fill at his position.
“Of course I would love to go play with Joe Burrow in that offensive scheme, and I think I would fit in very well with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd,” Taylor said.
Asked about his career goals, Taylor of course mentioned winning a Super Bowl, but he also said he is interested in someday being named NFL Man of the Year, an award named for Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton that recognizes players for their efforts off the field.
“I want to help people in my community that struggle and give ‘em a place to live, a roof over their head,” he said. “Find some way to help people better themselves in my community.”
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