Cincinnati finished 9-3 and will play Louisville at Fenway Park on Saturday.
Taylor revealed his plans in an Instagram post.
“I want to thank my family, friends, supporters and coaches for the amount of love and support I have received on a daily basis at the University of Cincinnati,” he wrote. “It is a blessing to know I have them with me every step of the way, allowing me to put my best foot forward with confidence.
“To my teammates, these past four years with you guys have been incredible. The funny memories, the celebrating and even the bonding moments will stay with me forever. You guys will always be my brothers through thick and thin.
“To my mom, you have always been there from the jump, through the ups and downs. You were there when I was stuck and always supported me no matter the circumstances. To my sister, you have always made me smile and been my number one supporter. You made me know what it’s like to be a big brother. Thank you both for being there no matter what, for the amount of love you give and for being strong.
“To my coaches, I’m thankful for the amount of belief, trust, and faith you had in me. I respect every coach that has pushed me to reach my potential and made me the best athlete on the field. Thank you for also pushing me to be an amazing student and man. You all have helped me become the person I am today, and I’m forever thankful for that.
“With that being said, I have decided to opt out of the bowl game, and I will be entering my name into the 2023 NFL Draft. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter of my life holds.”
Taylor picked Cincinnati on Signing Day in February 2018 during his senior year at Springfield. He picked UC over Louisville, Kentucky and Texas A&M after making official visits to all four since mid-December.
Taylor was a graduate student this past season at UC. He had a fifth season of eligibility because the 2020 season, played during the pandemic, didn’t count against anyone’s eligibility.
“Lenny is highly intelligent. He’s crafty, understands the game plan and how he fits into it,” UC tight ends coach Nate Letton told The Athletic last summer. “You see that on third downs and in the red zone. Even that Notre Dame game, the first touchdown we threw to him in the corner, the picture we saw on defense and practiced against was a little different, but he was able to navigate it because he has really good feel.”
ESPN ranks Taylor the 21st-best tight end in the 2023 draft.
“Taylor’s technique is inconsistent, and he can get stronger at the point, but he flashes as a blocker,” read ESPN’s preseason evaluation. “He drives his legs once in position, and he’s strong enough to battle defensive ends to a stalemate. He shows the ability to combo block up to the second level. Taylor is a big target and hands catcher, and he settles into pockets in zone looks. He’s not a polished route runner and lacks the burst to regularly separate from man, but he flashes the ability to make plays down the seam.”
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