It wasn’t a tough buy for Brandon Taylor. A standout on the basketball court as a 6-3 versatile wing, the Magnolia West senior was approached by Mustangs head football coach Ben McGehee during the spring to give football a shot.
Taylor had not put on a helmet and pads since the eighth grade. He had lost passion for the game. As a defensive back, football had grown tiresome. He wanted more out of a game that, at that time, could not offer.
So, the nephew of NBA Hall of Famer Jason Kidd focused on hoops, where he has starred for coach Mitchel Hornsby. And following a stellar track season, Taylor was approached by McGehee with some assurances.
One, Taylor would play receiver, and only offense. No more defense. And, two, football could open some doors for his future.
“I think he can be a game-changer for us on the outside,” McGehee said. “He has a lot of raw athletic ability. We told him there’s a ton of 6-3 basketball players. A 6-3 wide receiver is a little more sought after than a 6-3 basketball kid.”
Taylor didn’t think twice.
“It was a pretty easy decision,” he said. “Coach Hornsby was also really supportive of it. He said, ‘Heck, yeah. Go do it and go be elite.’ He wanted me to play football. He said it could make me a lot more physical.”
Aside from McGehee and Hornsby, friends also convinced Taylor to join football. He played AAU hoops with Will Cianfrini, a receiver out of California about the same size as Taylor whose future also likely resides on a field and not a court. Cianfrini strongly recommended Taylor play football.
Taylor said re-acclimating to the physicality of the game and the unreal heat at practices has not been easy. Otherwise, he is comfortable, able to use his athleticism and length to soar over helpless defensive backs, particularly in the red zone.
“It’s working out pretty good,” Taylor said. “It’s probably working out even better than I thought. Now the game is fun again. It’s really easy for me to get open and help a team. I feel like that’s the best spot for me. I’m having a lot of fun playing football.”
Without playing a down of varsity football, Taylor has already drawn an NCAA Division I offer from Arkansas State. During spring ball, he was quick to draw the attention of college coaches.
“Especially with the attention (senior linebacker and Stanford commit) Sam (Mattingly) was getting, he’s met with a bunch of college coaches already,” McGehee said. “It may be able to provide him some opportunities at the next level if he does what we think he will do. He’s an exciting piece for us.”
Ever since he was little, Taylor has had a close relationship to Kidd, his mother’s brother. It’s where his love for basketball comes from.
Since Kidd was named head coach of the Dallas Mavericks in the summer of 2021, Taylor sees him fairly often, making occasional trips to north Texas.
“He’s a really good role model, especially when it comes to sports,” Taylor said. “He’s another good man in my life and he helps me through a lot of stuff. He’s someone I can talk to. He’s always big on staying focused and working hard and not letting any distractions get to me.”
Taylor’s earliest memories of basketball include watching Kidd help lead the Mavericks to the 2011 NBA championship.
“That’s whenever I really realized what was going on and who he was,” Taylor said. “I just remember him as someone who was so confident and how nothing really rattled him.”
Taylor has some of the same traits. Like Kidd, Taylor, who will play point guard for Hornsby this winter, is fast and athletic. They’re also leaders who want to win more than anything.
For now, though, Taylor is excited about playing football for Magnolia West, which has made the playoffs 12 of the last 13 years, and being part of a potentially explosive offense.
“With me, (senior receiver) Gus (Jordan) and (senior running back) Terry (Daniels), we can really spread the defense out,” Taylor said. “They can’t really focus on just one person. I just have to worry about getting open.”
Taylor hopes to play both basketball and football in college. What he ultimately plays will be determined on which sport offers him the best opportunity.
He is thrilled with the decision to revive his football career.
“I feel like this game comes pretty naturally and easily,” Taylor said. “That gives me a lot of confidence. I just want to go far in the playoffs, make some history.”
