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LSU TE Mason Taylor continues to work back to 100 percent

On3 imageby:Matthew Brune•10/11/23•

MatthewBrune_

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LSU TE Mason Taylor (Photo: John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In LSU’s week two game against Grambling State, sophomore tight end Mason Taylor left the game with a sprained ankle and didn’t return. He missed the following game against Mississippi State, before returning against Arkansas. Even upon his return, it was clear he was not 100 percent, but this offense needed him.

Upon his return, head coach Brian Kelly said Taylor was playing at around 60 percent and now three weeks later, Taylor still fights to get back to full health.

“I would say I’m at maybe around 75-80 percent now,” Taylor said. “It’s definitely getting better. Every week it’s been bugging me less and less.”

Against Mississippi State, Taylor had 61 yards on five catches and he followed up that performance with four catches for 27 yards and a touchdown against Missouri on Saturday. 

“It’s definitely evolving, it’s just a week by week thing,” Taylor said of his injury. “Every week it’s been getting better so as we go down this road, I’ve been getting treatment every single day with my whole body and it’s been getting better every week.”

Playing his role

LSU’s offense relies on him to do it all at the tight end position, from blocking to receiving, to being in motion on a high percentage of snaps. As the only player in the tight end room in their second year of Division I football, there’s really no substitute for his play.

Junior college transfer Connor Gilbreath has been an in-line blocker in certain short-yardage packages, while the trio of freshmen in Ka’Morreun Pimpton, Mac Markway, and Jackson McGohan play a few snaps in most games. Markway and McGohan have already exhausted their redshirt ability and Pimpton is one game away from doing so as well.

“It’s just all confidence,” Taylor said is his advice to the younger tight ends. “Going out there at 100 percent is what the coaches want to see. Even if you’re not sure about what you’re doing, just show effort and be physical. Once they keep getting their feet wet in the game they’ll get more and more confident.”

This week, Taylor has to face a physical Auburn defense that has held up well against Texas A&M and Georgia so far this season, requiring Taylor to play a massive role in the offense. LSU enters at 4-2 and now enters the back half of the year with five home games and ample confidence.

“They have a good front and a good team,” Taylor said. “It’s the SEC so there’s not going to be a bad team. We just have to go out there and do what we’ve been doing offensively and then our defense will step up and do some great things too.”

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