#86 Mason Taylor Season 2023
2022 Freshman All-SEC (Coaches, AP)
2022 SEC Freshman of the Week vs. Alabama
2022 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
Outstanding young talent who made an immediate impact during his first season at LSU … Goes into sophomore season as one of the nation’s top tight ends after earning Freshman All-SEC honors in 2022 … Ranks second on LSU’s all-time single-season list for receptions (38) and No. 3 in receiving yards (414) by a tight end … Made Tiger Stadium erupt when he hauled in a 2-point conversion in overtime in LSU’s 32-31 win over Alabama … Does everything well on the football field … Makes catches with ease, tremendous as a blocker in the running game especially when it comes to providing downfield blocks for a scrambling Jayden Daniels … Comes from a football family as he dad Jason played 15 years in the NFL and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame … His uncle Zach Thomas is also a former NFL standout … His brother Isaiah plays football at Arizona … Last year, head coach Brian Kelly said of Mason Taylor, “we hit a home run with Mason Taylor. He’s been outstanding. I’ve been blessed. I’ve had some great tight ends. I’ve got seven of them right now who are active in the NFL. And Mason Taylor is as good as any freshman tight end that I’ve had.” … Named to First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll for the 2022-23 academic year … Majoring in general business.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2022)
Appeared in 14 games, starting 13 times … Started final 13 games of the season … Caught a pass in all but one game (at Arkansas) … Finished third on team in receptions (38) and receiving yards (414) … His 38 receptions rank No. 2 in school history for a tight end in a single season … Ranks No. 3 on LSU’s single-season list for receiving yards by a tight end (414) … Both are the most by a freshman tight end in LSU history … Will long be remembered for hauling in 2-point conversion from Jayden Daniels in overtime to beat Alabama, 32-31 … Named SEC Freshman of the Week for his performance in win over Crimson Tide (3 receptions, 36 yards, 1 TD) … Against Alabama, caught a 7-yard TD pass with 1:47 remaining in contest to put the Tigers up 24-21 … All 3 receptions vs. Alabama resulted in a first down (twice) or a touchdown (1) … Had career-best 6 receptions for 63 yards vs. Georgia in SEC Championship Game … Followed that with a career-best 88 yards on 5 catches vs. Purdue in Citrus Bowl … Scored on a 32-yard pass from Daniels in the second quarter that put LSU up 21-0 against Purdue … In LSU debut, caught 4 passes for 34 yards vs. Florida State … Caught just 1 pass (6 yards) at Florida, but it came on 3-and-2 in first quarter and extended what turned out to be a TD scoring drive for the Tigers … Against Ole Miss, scored first TD of career on a 1-yard pass from Daniels that put LSU up for good at 24-20 with 8:25 left in the third quarter.
HIGH SCHOOL
Versatile tight end that has tremendous pass-catching ability … Prepped at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in south Florida … Rated with four-stars and as the No. 7 ranked tight end in the nation by Rivals … Big frame that will allow him to also be effective in run blocking …. Caught 12 passes for 162 yards in the opening game of the 2021 season… Started at tight end for the 2020 7A Florida state champion team … Named to the Miami Herald All-Broward 8A-6A first-team… Father is Jason Taylor, 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, who played for the majority of his professional career as a Miami Dolphin and tallied 139.5 sacks… Jason was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2017, which was his first year of eligibility… Uncle is Zach Thomas, another NFL player with an extensive history in the league, playing linebacker for 12 seasons on the Dolphins and one with the Dallas Cowboys.
Mason Taylor’s Career Highs
Receptions: 6 vs. Georgia, 2022 SEC Championship Game
Receiving Yards: 88 vs. Purdue, 2023 Citrus Bowl
Receiving TDs: 1, 3x (Last: vs. Purdue, 2023 Citrus Bowl; First: vs. Ole Miss, 2022)
Longest Reception: 38 vs. Ole Miss, 2022