Dynamic, versatile Brach Taylor the ultimate 'football guy' for Pellston Hornets

PELLSTON – The term ‘football guy’ gets thrown around a lot these days.

But perhaps no one in the Cheboygan area epitomizes it more than Pellston senior Brach Taylor , one of the most versatile players around. Since joining Pellston’s varsity as a freshman, it’s been a massive rise for Taylor , someone who doesn’t mind playing any spot on the field.

This year – and he has no problem with it – won’t be any different for the Hornets’ leader.

“They’ve got me playing all over again, running back, wide receiver, but on defense I’m a linebacker, too,” Taylor said. “I do (enjoy it). I get to see the field from different areas and see different positions that I normally don’t get at one position.”

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No matter what position he’s occupying – quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker, or even long snapper – Taylor usually thrives. But for him to become the dynamic performer he is, it's required a relentless work ethic.

When it matters, everyone knows he’s the lead Hornet on the field.

“Brach is the pulse of this team,” Pellston coach Jack Carter said. “He comes out here at the end of the night, talks to the team. He gets that opportunity and when I talk positivity, it starts with Brach. He knows what it takes when he made the playoffs, and he knows what it’s been like the last two years when we didn’t make it.

“If you have the ability to put the team in front of the individual, we believe good things can happen, and he epitomizes that.”

As productive of a career as he’s had, Taylor never seems to be satisfied. Always looking to improve, he spent much of his summer at camps and reaped the benefits.

But now comes some unfinished business for the Pellston star, who said he and his teammates are hungrier than ever to taste the postseason after missing out the last two years.

“There’s a lot of motivation,” Taylor said. “I’m really looking forward to having a better record. The guys are motivated, you can see it every day. They’re ready to come here and work. I think there’s a lot of belief here. I think we’re ready to compete.”

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Returning to coach the Hornets this fall, Carter said he’s relishing the opportunity of watching Taylor perform at a high level. Before the Hornets went home following a practice late last week, he made sure to praise Taylor once more.

And what Carter said had a ‘football guy’ feel to it.

“He’s certainly gotten faster, and he’s certainly gotten stronger, and not just stronger like in weights, which he has done, but his hand strength is stronger,” Carter said. “I think his mental strength, that ability to hold things together, just the little stuff, making sure the equipment’s out here. Those are huge.

“He’s laying that groundwork.”

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com . Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Dynamic, versatile Brach Taylor the ultimate 'football guy' for Pellston Hornets