Inside The Panthers

Pitt Starting OL Declares for NFL Draft

A Pitt Panthers starting offensive lineman declared for the NFL Draft.

Dominic Campbell

Sep 9, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers offensive lineman Branson Taylor (78) blocks against Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jack Dingle (49) during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Sep 9, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers offensive lineman Branson Taylor (78) blocks against Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jack Dingle (49) during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers will lose one of their starting offensive lineman, as they chose to play football at the next level.

Redshirt senior offensive lineman Branson Taylor announced that he will end his college career and declare for the NFL Draft after spending five seasons with Pitt. He will forgo a sixth season in college, that he could've used with the extra year of eligibility from the COVID-19 pandemic.

He came out of Elyria Catholic High School, west of Cleveland and served as one of the best offensive lineman in Ohio, not allowing a sack as a senior.

247Sports rated Taylor as a four-star in the Class of 2020, No. 7 recruit in Ohio and No. 22 offensive tackle, while Rivals rated Taylor as a three-star and No. 34 in the state.

Taylor made 12 appearances in the 2021 season on the PAT/field goal unit, as the Panthers won their first ever ACC title. He also played in three games in the 2020 season, preserving a redshirt.

He played in all 13 games in 2022, starting four at left tackle when Carter Warren went down with an injury that kept him out most of the season. This makes it three straight seasons that a Pitt left tackle has suffered a serious injury.

Taylor started the first three games of the 2023 season at right tackle and then started eight of the next nine games at left tackle, following a season-ending injury to Matt Goncavles. Goncalves departed for the NFL and the Indianapolis Colts took him in the Third Round in the 2024 Draft.

He started the first six games of this season at left tackle, playing in 343 snaps, before suffering an injury in the 17-15 home win vs. Cal in Week 7.

Taylor didn't leave the sideline during that game, but the extent of the injury came following and Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi announced he was out for the season following their home win vs. Syracuse in Week 9.

Pitt struggled finding a replacement for Taylor at left tackle, using redshirt junior Terrence Enos Jr. for Syracuse and then against No. 20 SMU in Week 10, but then having redshirt sophomore Ryan Baer move from right tackle to left tackle for the final five games.

This led to Pitt using redshirt sophomore Isaiah Montgomery started for Pitt at right tackle vs. Virginiain Week 11 and the last two games of the regular season, road losses to Louisville in Week 13 and Boston College in Week 14, fellow redshirt sophomore Jackson Brown did so in the home loss to then ranked No. 20 Clemson in Week 12 and then Enos started for the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs. Toledo.

He is the third Pitt player to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, joining seniors in wide receiver Konata Mumpfield and defensive back Donovan McMillon.

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Dominic Campbell
DOMINIC CAMPBELL

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