The 2024 LSU football season is set to get underway this coming Sunday, and while there’s plenty of unknown about the roster, it does return some big-time playmakers like tight end Mason Taylor, who star linebacker Harold Perkins Jr thinks could be one of the top players at his position in college football.
Star linebacker expecting a productive year from LSU tight end Mason Taylor during the 2024 season
In 2023, LSU featured an offense that was led by one of the best passing attacks in college football. From Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jayden Daniels to touchdown machine wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr, there wasn’t a weak link in the group, and it made life for opposing defenses about as difficult as possible.
Unfortunately, there were only so many reps to be given out, and because of the sheer amount of talent in last season’s passing group, several players found themselves on the short end of the stick in terms of overall productivity.
One such player was that of tight end Mason Taylor, a now junior who’s been an impact player for the Tigers since his freshman year in 2022. Coming into college as a three-star recruit, the Plantation, FL, product flew somewhat under-the-radar throughout his first two seasons, but the potential has always been there for a boost to being one of the very best college football has to offer.
Now, with talented wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr being in the midst of preparation for their NFL rookie season, there are plenty of receptions open for the taking, and if offseason talks have been any indication, Taylor looks primed to step in and snag some.
“To me, he’s probably the best tight end in the country; and that’s coming from me,” linebacker Harold Perkins Jr said to the media Monday afternoon. “I’m out here everyday guarding him, going against him everyday and he just keeps elevating. He’s elevating my game and I’m elevating his game, so watch out.”
Both entering their third year with the purple and gold, Harold Perkins Jr and Mason Taylor each found their way to immediate playing time in Baton Rouge, LA, and have found themselves matched up in practices quite a few times. In turn, few players in the country are more qualified to share their thoughts on the talented tight end than the Louisiana-based linebacker, and he certainly appears to be confident in his teammate’s abilities.
“He’s not like a typical tight end. He can do everything, he can block, he can run routes, he can catch for sure. It’s just about what you want from him as a coach, but he can definitely do everything.”
Through two seasons with LSU, Taylor has recorded a total of 74 receptions for 762 yards and four touchdowns in his 26 game appearances. While those numbers aren’t subpar by any means, it certainly feels like he has the potential to do even more as a part of the offense in 2024, especially as far as scoring numbers go
Taylor enters this weekend as one of the leaders of the roster, and is a player who could be one of the bigger breakout candidates as far as pass catchers go. Expect to see the ball thrown his way plenty throughout this coming 2024 season as quarterback Garrett Nussmeier looks to get settled as the new starter for the purple and gold.
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