Antrell Taylor is entering his senior season with the Nebraska wrestling program, and he wants to make an impact.
Taylor competes at the 157-pound weight class and plans to take on a leadership role for the Huskers, who enter the season as the nation’s No. 3 team. Taylor’s focused on performing on the mat, while also helping his younger teammates learn Nebraska’s standards.
“I feel like being a leader in wrestling is just you got to kind of be able to pick guys up when they’re down, encourage people, encourage the younger guys, just because they’re new to college wrestling, and new to the whole environment,” Taylor told Hail Varsity. “So I feel like I’ve just been leading by example with my work, in than just being there for guys when they need me.”
The Huskers are full of young wrestlers, and their roster includes 10 freshmen. Taylor wants to set an example for that group.
“I feel like I’m a good representation of what our identity is, and how we’re a hard-working, hard-nosed, blue-collar type of program,” Taylor said. “I feel like I’m a great example of that, and the guys around me, like Jacob Van Dee, and a lot of the older guys that are on the team now a days are also a very great example of that.”
A big part of that identity begins with Nebraska’s culture. The Millard South product said that when he arrived in Lincoln, the culture existed, but it’s grown over the past few years.
“It’s a lot similar to people in the military,” Taylor said. “They work really hard. They’re sacrificing a lot of time, a lot of things in their life, so I feel like that hard work just brings us all together. It molds us together, seeing each other down, seeing each other dying from workouts. That will bring a different bond to people when you’re struggling together.”
Taylor has experienced that first-hand, and one of the people that’s helped him through difficult times in life is Nebraska head coach Mark Manning.
Antrell’s brother, Adrrell Taylor, was shot and killed in 2023, and Manning was there for him. The coach sat alongside his wrestler at the funeral, and he’s supported him throughout his time at Nebraska.
“He’ll be on me before I even take my first rep in practice, and I just know he’s doing that because he sees something that I don’t,” Taylor said. “He sees that I could be a world champ. I could be an Olympic champion, so who he is speaks volumes. It’s honestly hard to put into words how much he’s done for me, and how much he’s helped me throughout my time being in Lincoln.”
Manning said Taylor means a lot to the program, too.
“I’m just thankful for Antrell, and for his mom Tammy (Taylor) who really believed Nebraska could be the place that Antrell could reach his goals, and his dreams,” Manning said after Taylor’s national championship win.
Taylor won the 157-pound title in 2025 as a sophomore, and he’s already accomplished plenty in his Husker career.
He followed that sophomore campaign up with a 26-4 record – including a 16-2 dual record – as a junior. Taylor collected three pins, seven technical falls, three major decisions, and took first at the Navy Classic. The three-time All-American finished second at both the Big Ten championship and NCAA tournament.
He also guided Nebraska to consecutive top-five finishes for the first time in program history. The Huskers took second at the NCAA championships in 2025 and finished third in 2026.
He’s hoping to another successful season this winter.
“I know I’m really close to the end, and that kind of brings some sadness to my heart, but then again I know I’ve accomplished a lot of things while I’ve been at Nebraska,” Taylor said. “It’s just another year to add on to my legacy and add on to what I’ve been doing down here. I’m just honestly really excited to get this year up and running.”
All eyes on these two 👀@TaylorAntrell & @tophy_minto have been named to the @B1GWrestling Wrestlers to Watch list. pic.twitter.com/XVnyoiOkhH
— Nebraska Wrestling (@HuskerWrestling) November 4, 2026
The Huskers open their season on Sunday, and Taylor couldn’t envision himself anywhere else. His loyalty, along with his love for Nebraska have motivated Taylor to stay.
“Leaving the state of Nebraska wouldn’t really feel right to me, especially trying to accomplish the goals I want to accomplish,” Taylor said. “I want to be able to wrestle, and win at the highest level.
“It’s more so about the image that I’m putting out to the people than for myself, because I’m a very selfless person. Being able to do the things I do for this state is amazing.”
One way Taylor gives back is by running wrestling camps in the summer.
“Whenever I get the opportunity to do a camp in Nebraska, or do a practice in Nebraska, and just instill my mindset to some of these kids that are in the same shoes that I was in when I was growing up is just amazing,” Taylor said. “It’s showing the kids a better way, because I feel like around this time in 2026 kids don’t really have something to look up to, like something good to represent something that they’re seeing. So it’s great that I can be a role model for these kids.”
Taylor will continue showing up for young children, while preparing for his final NCAA season. He and the Huskers have plenty of goals, and Taylor wants to soak up every moment.
“I’m just looking forward to just staying in the moment and being able to compete at the highest level once again this year, and just having an opportunity to showcase my skills,” he said. “I want to just show everybody what I’m made of for another year.”
Taylor and the Huskers open the year on Sunday, as Nebraska welcomes No. 20 Wyoming to the Devaney Center. The first duel is set for 3 p.m.
“I just want to accomplish as much as I can accomplish in a matter of time that I’m here,” Taylor said. “I just want to get to the highest level, compete at the highest level, bring my family to tournaments, and things that they’ve never got to go to. I just want to be able to show my family the world while I’m wrestling.”
