TAYLOR — Tavian Branch spoke to a captivated audience beneath a stage spotlight and had five hats with the college logos of Oklahoma, Alabama, Penn State, Notre Dame and Rutgers on a table. He took little time hovering his hand over each before confidently grabbing the white one with a large red R on the front.

With that, he put it on his head, and he and his mom, Angel, revealed their red shirts that had his last name and his issued number 0 on the back. The Riverside lineman ended his recruiting process by committing to Rutgers amid a shower of applause and confetti Wednesday morning at the high school auditorium.

“This is an amazing feeling, knowing that I have so many supporters out there,” said Branch, 17, as he pointed to his teammates and the audience that filled the seats. “They motivate me every single day to keep doing what I am doing and work hard. Rutgers took me in as a member of the family. Coach (Greg) Schiano is a great coach, and I am glad that he took me in as a player and as a family member.”

The celebration started, and the massive 6-foot-4, 290-pound Branch embraced his mother and coach Harry Armstrong. His mom then thanked those who attended the event and who supported her son during this three-year journey.

“It is special for me to see him live out his dream,” said Angel, who initially did not want her son playing football. “He put in the time and energy. He started late in ninth grade, and he was injured, and he still put in the time and put in hard work. He just kept going and continued to love the sport from that point onward.

“His dedication is outstanding. I look up to him. He always says that he looks up to me, but I look up to him. He is amazing. Everything he puts his mind to, he conquers. I couldn’t be more proud.”

After only three varsity football seasons of experience, Branch changed his body, built his strength and became a coveted lineman among many of the top players in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

In addition to his final five, he had scholarship offers from Boston College, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Kent State, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oklahoma State, which he visited in April, Old Dominion, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Syracuse, Temple, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

During the process, Branch worked hard, marketed himself on social media, and took visits to Rutgers, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. During his prospect camps, he posted impressive measurables that included a best 40-yard dash time of 4.95 seconds, a broad jump of 9 feet, 3 inches and 30 bench presses of 225 pounds with a maximum lift of 450 pounds.

Branch’s decision, which he insisted came a little more than a week ago, came down to the personal interactions and relationships he started to build with the players, Coach Schiano and the staff at Rutgers.

Rutgers, a member of the Big Ten, finished 7-6 overall and 4-5 in the conference last season. The Scarlet Knights lost to Kansas State, 44-41, in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona.

“Rutgers was so consistent in reaching out to me,” Branch said. “All of the schools are great schools, and I am very blessed to be in the position that I am in and I am thankful to these five schools and all of the others. Rutgers really stood out with how they recruited me.”

With his decision finalized, Branch can focus on his final season at Riverside.

Last fall, he helped lead the team to the District 2 Class 2A championship and the PIAA Class 2A semifinals. Branch, the Hookey Reap Award winner as the best defensive lineman in Lackawanna County, had 66 tackles, 48 solo, 27 for loss, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and 20 quarterback hurries.

“As soon as we get settled, we are going to go to team camp and just kill it there,” Branch said. “I can’t wait to actually get back to playing football while also celebrating my commitment to Rutgers.”