1,308 receiving yards and a huge two-point conversion versus Alabama is how LSU fans will remember tight end Mason Taylor. The Florida native announced on Thursday he will forgo his senior season and enter NFL draft.
It’s been reported LSU was trying to convince him to stay for a fourth season, but Taylor, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, is ready to carve out his own NFL career.
WWL’s Mike Detillier has Taylor ranked 47th overall on his Big Board for the 2025 NFL draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Taylor ranked as his third best tight end prospect for next year’s draft.
The 1,308 career receiving yards are the most ever by an LSU tight end. His two-point conversion to beat Alabama in overtime goes down as one of the greatest plays in LSU football history. Taylor also caught a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to give the Tigers a brief lead in that classic SEC game.
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LSU is also losing a couple more players to the transfer portal.
Safety Kylin Jackson is reportedly leaving LSU after two seasons where he recorded just five total tackles. Jackson is a big safety at six-foot-three, 200 pounds from Zachary High School.
Jackson was seeing playing time in the first half of the season. But when the coaching staff decided to stop rotating players in the defensive secondary, the former four-star recruit didn’t see the field as much.
Fellow safety Jordan Allen is also expected to enter the transfer portal.
Major Burns is moving on to the NFL and Sage Ryan could forgo his final season.
Redshirt junior Jardin Gilbert, sophomore Javien Toviano, redshirt sophomore Austin Ausberry and freshmen Dashawn Spears and freshman Joel Rogers are the safeties that are currently on the roster.
It’s expected the Tigers would target a safety in the transfer portal, even before Allen and Jackson’s decisions to leave.
Also leaving, former Catholic High of Baton Rouge star Shelton Sampson. Sampson was one of the top wide receivers in the Class of 2023, but after two seasons without catching a pass, Sampson is looking for a fresh start elsewhere.
Sophomore Landon Ibieta and starter CJ Daniels are also reportedly heading for the transfer portal.
It’s expected that senior Kyren Lacy will head for the NFL. That leaves just Aaron Anderson and Zavion Thomas as the only two receivers with more than five catches that will return next season.
LSU will likely be looking for at least two receivers in the transfer portal.