Tag: Mason Taylor

LSU tight end Connor Gilbreath enters transfer portal

Connor Gilbreath appeared in 13 games for the Tigers last fall, but he did not make any receptions.

For the 2023 recruiting class last season, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and his recruiting staff picked up a commitment from a big tight end out of Butte College by the name of [autotag]Connor Gilbreath[/autotag].

Gilbreath is a 6-foot-5, 265-pound tight end who came to LSU with the tools to have a lot of playing time. He got exactly what he wished for as he appeared in 13 games for the Tigers last fall but he did not make any receptions. He was mainly used in short-yardage blocking situations.

Now, Gilbreath has decided to move on to greener pastures.

He has entered his name into the transfer portal for 2024. LSU has a few good tight ends still on the team starting with [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] who served as a hero in LSU’s win over Alabama two years ago. [autotag]Mac Markway[/autotag], [autotag]Ka’Morreun Pimpton[/autotag], and [autotag]Trey’Dez Green[/autotag] could all see significant playing time this fall for the Tigers.

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LSU Co-OC Joe Sloan has high praise for TE Mason Taylor

LSU’s offensive coordinator recently talked about utilizing the tight ends this season.

LSU’s offensive coordinator [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] recently talked about utilizing the tight ends this season. One player he is very high on is [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag].

Taylor is a 6-foot-6, 253-pound tight end from Plantation, Florida, and has spent his last two seasons with LSU. During his freshman year, he served as the hero for the LSU Tigers in their overtime win over Alabama. He caught the game-winning reception for the two-point conversion.

Taylor has played in 26 games and started in 25 of those during his freshman and sophomore seasons. He has recorded 74 receptions for 762 yards and four touchdowns. He is now without [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], but he still has the tools to be productive.

When your offensive coordinator has that high of an opinion of you, it has to drive you to want to succeed even more. Sloan wants to get [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] off to a nice start for his first season as a starter and what better way to do that than by getting the tight ends active?

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Speed the key for LSU’s receivers in 2024

LSU’s wide receiver room has plenty of speed in 2024. That could soften the blow of losing Thomas and Nabers.

LSU’s wide receiver room has some big shoes to fill this fall.

[autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] are off to the NFL. Together, they combined for 2,746 yards and 31 touchdowns on 157 catches last year.

The two accounted for 62.3% of LSU’s receiving yards and 40% of all offensive touchdowns. That’s a huge chunk of production LSU needs to replace.

With Nabers and Thomas swallowing up so many targets, LSU doesn’t have much experience waiting in the wings. [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] were decent supplemental options last year, combining for 66 catches and 906 yards.

But what LSU lacks in experience, it could make up for in speed. Last week, receiver [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] took to social media posting what can be assumed was his tracked speed at a workout. 23.3 miles per hour.

That’s elite speed, and he’s not the only one. Hilton will be joined by a few other guys that can fly.

[autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] caught just 12 passes last year after transferring from Alabama, but in high school, he was a track star in Louisiana.

[autotag]Jelani Watkins[/autotag], a key member of LSU’s 2024 class who signed last December, is set to join the fold too.

Watkins is one of the fastest players in the country, winning the Texas state title in the 200-meter.

What does this mean for LSU on the field?

Speed doesn’t always translate and there’s plenty more that goes into being a good receiver. It’s also nothing new. Nabers and Thomas could also fly and it’s hard to imagine LSU’s downfield passing attack getting any better than it was last year.

But the speed LSU will have in that room could help keep LSU among the most explosive offenses in the country.

LSU might not have anyone who can adjust to the ball in the air and make plays at the level of Nabers and Thomas, but it can make up for it with guys who can consistently take the top off a defense.

With [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] at QB, who’s shown he won’t hesitate to let it fly, expect LSU to take plenty of deep shots in 2024.

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LSU signee Trey’Dez Green finishes as No. 2 tight end in final On3 rankings

Trey’Dez Green could be the next great LSU tight end.

LSU landed a lot of talented players in the 2024 cycle, but not many have the chance to be as impactful a player as tight end [autotag]Trey’Dez Green[/autotag].

One of the best overall signees in the class for the Tigers, Green ranks as the No. 31 player nationally in On3’s industry rankings and the No. 1 tight end in the nation.

In On3’s own rankings, he isn’t far behind. He ranks 32nd overall, though he ranks as the No. 2 tight end in the class behind Alabama signee Caleb Odom, who sits just two spots higher in the overall rankings.

Here’s the overall scouting breakdown on Green, who stands at 6-foot-6.5 and 230 pounds.

“High flying tight end prospect who plays above the rim on the football field as well as the basketball court. Highly rated basketball player who has serious bounce on the hardwood. 50-50 balls are closer to 70-30 for him with his ability to high point the football. Has rare body control and balance for someone his age with his size. Will have some growing pains as a blocker, but his ability to move and go up and get the football with his size is rare for the position. Arguably the top pass-catching mismatch in the 2024 cycle.”

As On3 notes, Green also demonstrates his athletic ability as a high school basketball player.

The Tigers have seen a lot of success from tight end [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] under coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag], and Green has the potential to be the next great player at the position for the Tigers.

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LSU signee Trey’Dez Green finishes as five-star in final On3 rankings

An LSU signee picked up his fifth star this week.

An LSU signee picked up his fifth star this week per On3’s updated rankings.

The recruiting service released its final prospect ratings for the 2024 class, going from 21 five-stars to 32. LSU’s [autotag]Trey’Dez Green[/autotag] was one of the beneficiaries, now ranking 32nd overall with five stars.

Green had always been one of the top-ranked tight ends, but a five-star rating was elusive as he hovered around the 35-45 overall range. Now, he has it.

On3 is the only service to give Green five stars, but he is a consensus blue-chip recruit and top 100 across the board.

According to On3’s Charles Powers, “Green will have some growing pains as a blocker, but his ability to move and go up and get the football with his size is rare for the position.

Green continues LSU’s run of success recruiting tight ends. Two years ago, LSU added [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag]. Last year, the Tigers signed [autotag]Mac Markway[/autotag] and [autotag]Ka’Morreun Pimpton[/autotag].

With Taylor, Markway and Pimpton set to return, along with the addition of Green, LSU’s tight end room is prepared to take center stage this fall.

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LSU lands top tight end in 2024 recruiting class according to On3

Trey’Dez Green joins a tight-end room at LSU that has some very talented players.

On3 recently released a list of the top 10 tight ends in the 2024 recruiting class and the schools that they committed to. [autotag]Trey’Dez Green[/autotag] was the No. 1 tight end on the list and thankfully, he signed with the LSU Tigers.

Green is a 6-foot-7, 225-pound, four-star tight end who is ranked as the No. 1 tight end in the country by Rivals and by the 247Sports Composite ratings. He is ranked as a top 100 overall player on every recruiting site. He is as high as the No. 36 overall player by On3.

Green joins a tight-end room at LSU that has some very talented players. [autotag]Mac Markway[/autotag], [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag], [autotag]Ka’Morreun Pimpton[/autotag], [autotag]Jackson McGohan[/autotag], and [autotag]Connor Gilbreath[/autotag] are all guys who could see playing time and make a big impact in the passing and running game for the Tigers in 2024.

Adding Green to that squad makes the LSU tight end room one of the best rooms in the NCAA.

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LSU true freshman tight end enters the transfer portal

The Tigers lost one of their 2023 tight end signees on Wednesday.

LSU signed three tight ends in the 2023 class, but with [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] only being a sophomore, some attrition following the season was expected.

We saw that on Wednesday as true freshman tight end [autotag]Jackson McGohan[/autotag] entered the transfer portal. A three-star prospect in the 2023 class from Miamisburg, Ohio, McGohan appeared in eight games during his first season in Baton Rouge.

Most of that action came on special teams, and he didn’t catch a pass.

LSU’s tight end outlook in 2024 still looks good. Taylor is expected to return, as are other 2023 signees [autotag]Mac Markway[/autotag] and [autotag]Ka’Morreun Pimpton[/autotag]. The Tigers also have a commitment from [autotag]Trey’Dez Green[/autotag], a Louisiana prospect who ranks as the top tight end in the 2024 class.

McGohan becomes the fifth LSU scholarship player to enter the transfer portal since the conclusion of the regular season.

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Brian Kelly discusses LSU’s skill position talent after Auburn win

For the first time this season, Kyren Lacy led the team in receiving yards as he caught four passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.

[autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] did an incredible job facilitating the ball on Saturday night as he connected with eight different receivers and threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns.

For the first time this season, Kyren Lacy led the team in receiving yards as he caught four passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. It was more than just the wide receivers, though. Daniels got the running backs and tight ends involved. [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag], [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] all recorded a reception against the Auburn Tigers.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] was asked about the amount of playmakers he has on his team after the game and here is what he had to say.

“Yeah, Mason Taylor getting involved, the tight ends. It’s pretty impressive,” Kelly said. “And I thought we did a good job of getting every the ball, Kyren Lacy probably had a breakout game, he drops one and comes to the sideline and said, ‘Coach, I owe you one.’ I said ‘No, you owe me two.’ And he got us two, maybe Kyren doesn’t respond the right way and maybe drops his head a little bit. He’s matured so much that he stayed positive and said, ‘Coach, when I get my chance, I’m going to make it up.’ And it was great to see him do that.

“We can throw a lot of guys at you and we keep those legs fresh. You know, I thought (offensive coordinator) Mike (Denbrock) did a really good job of mixing things up. I mean, you didn’t know if it was run or pass, and then when we needed to get physical, we were able to do that and roll up our sleeves. It was, it was a really, really good performance.”

LSU will welcome Army into Baton Rouge next weekend.

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Mason Taylor provides update on ankle injury that has been limiting him

Mason Taylor isn’t at 100% quite yet after his Week 2 ankle sprain.

Tight end [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] is still working to get back to full strength after spraining his ankle in Week 2 against Grambling.

When meeting with reporters on Tuesday, Taylor said he was around “75-80%” against Missouri.

Taylor missed LSU’s Week 3 game against Mississippi State but has since played in every game after returning in Week 4. In that span, Taylor’s caught 12 passes for 121 yards. He caught his first touchdown of the year last Saturday against Missouri.

On the entire year, Taylor’s caught 17 passes for 160 yards, which puts him above his pace from last year despite the ankle injury. Taylor getting back to full health could take LSU’s passing game up another notch.

It would also aid a pass-catching group that’s had some depth issues the last few weeks due to [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] both missing time along with Taylor’s ongoing recovery.

Depth is a problem at tight end, too. After Taylor, LSU would be relying on a handful of true freshmen.

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Stock Up, Stock Down: LSU suffers a loss to Ole Miss

This game was a doozy.

This game was a doozy.

Neither team decided to bring their defense to this ball game. [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] put up some great numbers but it wasn’t enough as LSU’s defense allowed 55 points to an Ole Miss Rebels offense that only scored 10 last week against Alabama.

Ole Miss had two punts and one turnover on downs on their 12 drives. Every other drive they had ended with at least three points. The Rebels scored seven touchdowns and two field goals on their other drives.

Something has got to give for this defense. I do not know what needs to change, but they lost this game for the Tigers.

With that in mind, here’s how things are trending after the game.