Bussin' With The Boys - Mason Taylor Talks About His Freshmen Year, Dealing With Internet Hate + Hopes For Next Season

Episode Date: April 10, 2023

Recorded: April 5th 2023 | Our next interview from our stop in LSU, we sit down with freshmen tight end, Mason Taylor. Mason talks about what it was like starting as a true freshmen in the SEC and the different challenges that it brought. He then gets into his recruiting journey and how he decided to come to LSU. He talks about how his dad, Jason Taylor, helped him throughout the process as well. Finally, he talks about his expectations for next season, including what he believes he needs to improve on as well as the different tight ends he tries to model his game off of. You can tell Mason his a huge football guy and look out for him next year. Enjoy fellas. 0:00 interview starts 1:07 talk about his first year 2:25 how did he deal with the haters 5:16 expectations going into sophomore year 6:07 what made him come to LSU 7:26 how pivotal was his dad in the whole recruiting process 8:17 acclimating to the LSU culture 9:49 what was it like growing up with his dad 11:11 who was he a fan of in the NFL and where would he want to play 11:51 who are tight ends he watches he wants model his game off of 12:33 things he needs to work on as a player 15:46 what game is he looking forward to the most this year and the Florida St. game last year 16:20 what does he telling himself during a 2 minute drill ---- SHOP: https://store.barstoolsports.com/collections/bussin-with-the-boys FOLLOW THE BOYS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bussinwtb Twitter: https://twitter.com/BussinWTB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BussinWTB Website: https://www.bussinwtb.com ---- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS CHEVY - EVs for everyone, everywhereFor more, visit barstool.link/bussinwtbSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Mason Taylor, an absolute pleasure to have you on the podcast. Glad to be here. How do we open him up? I feel like he's a little. Yeah. You know what I mean? You can feel it a little bit.

I mean, you're going to your sophomore year, right? Yeah. How old? 18. Wow. You're still 18? When's your birthday?

May 8th. Nice, bro. Yeah, I'm pretty young. Any big plans for your birthday coming up? Fred's? Dave and Busters, probably? Probably Dave and Busters, yeah. Busties.

Honestly, probably football, so we'll probably still be here. Dude, talk about your first year, like you were a true freshman. You know, we can talk about how you didn't get out of bounds right away in the Florida State game. We can also talk about the two-point conversion against Bama to win the game. We can start wherever you want. Yeah. The whole season was crazy. I mean, coming from high school, it's a hundred percent different from how you prepare and

the games and basically the crowd. That was the biggest thing to me. I remember the first game going out out there, I was like, what the hell is this? Just like going on and seeing 80,000 people just watching you. And that was, again, the first wake-up call to college was probably after that game. I've gotten so many hate comments and DMs after that. My phone was blowing up. I'm like, what is this?

And I had a buddy, Gary Nussmeyer telling me in the shower. He was like, he was like, welcome to college football. Like, your phone's going to be ringing 24-7. So that was my big wake-up call, basically, like, welcome to college football. A bunch of people out there talking shit about you or whatever. But the whole season's been amazing. I mean, through the ups and downs, some bad games, to your good games. I mean, like you said, the Bama game was insane.

After that, it was even more fun. But that whole, the whole experience, the whole season's been awesome. It's a great ride, and I'm looking forward to next year, too. Brother, it seems like there was a lot of ups and downs, but dealing with the haters of social media, everyone's got a voice now. I'm curious, as young as you are, how did you, after that first game,

and you're sitting getting all this hate mail and all this different stuff, like, how did you handle that in your head going further into your freshman year? Yeah, I mean, at first it was like, kind of like, you kind of try to come up with excuses and stuff at that, but you kind of just got a, all your teammates. How?

Like, I, I mean, I'm like, I'd say like you kind of try to defend yourself. Like, oh, it wasn't me, blah, blah, blah, blah. But you kind of, half the people, or more than half the people, don't even know what the fuck they're talking about. So I think that's a big thing. He's dialed. Yeah.

And basically, basically just looking at your support, like your teammates and coaches, like this is the only people we need and the only people we have. So in your family. But other than that, I think after that first game, all the other hate I came after that, I kind of just brush it off your shoulders and keep playing. And then it happens moments like, like the Bama game.

I had people telling me in my DMs, I'm sorry, and I would scroll up, and it was like, F, you, blah, blah, blah, blah, and it's the same people what I were saying, FU, week one.

So, yeah, I just let it brush off my shoulders now. I really don't mind it at all, but it's definitely been growing. You caught yourself in a little bit of a hole there thinking, like, you said the excuses, which everyone does.

Oh, every, everybody does. Someone, like, oh, like, when I was playing, like, oh, yeah, you give up the sack and you'd be like, oh, that wasn't me. But, like, getting away from the keyboard, where it's like because you don't have to fight that battle yeah has got to be tough to do definitely

the tough part is not trying to respond back because you respond and then it just so yeah I've never responded to one of those and he did respond like once in a while though like sometimes you got let her let a fucker know like hey listen about that social social brand yeah yeah because it's something that's constant like it's not you handle it when you're 18 so it'll never happen again like I was still fighting the same demons at 27 in the league uh just thinking about like you know, because you take everything personal because you care so much. Yeah, you care a lot. And people don't see how much you put into it.

Exactly. And you just want to be keyboard warriors. Yeah. And you're like, what the hell is going on? Accounts that have one, one follower. Yeah, dude. It's always them, too. And no profile picked.

They made it up like right there. At that day, they made it. What do they matter the most for whatever reason? Yeah, because you'll see like nine comments are like all positive. And there's that 10th one. Yeah. That one's like, you suck. Something basic.

Yeah. Bro. Do I? That's that nerve a little bit. Yeah, it does. We're going to do that stuff, and it's only going to get worse, honestly. Because you seem like you're the, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, from what everyone was telling us about you, is that you started to do this.

So you have a lot to look forward to, especially in your college career. Like, as you become more of a nationally recognized player, there's going to be more hate, like some dude in Philadelphia. He doesn't come for you. He doesn't know yet. It's not one game. Yeah. And decided that that's what it is.

What are your expectations going into the sophomore year, ending the way, your freshman year did. And also, you didn't even early enroll. Like, you just showed up to campus, and you're like, I'm just going to play for LSU immediately. Yeah, it definitely took a lot of work to get back in the, and really the playbook is the hardest thing. I mean, there's so many ins and outs, and you can know the plays, but you have to know the defenses and, like, what they do and stuff that. So it was definitely a lot to handle. So going into this season, I think I definitely have high expectations, and I'm looking forward to that. I mean, that's why I came here, and that's what I'm going to do. But yeah, definitely have high expectations, but I think I'm going to have a great year

and learn from my mistakes from last year and watch the film and get with the coaches and see how I can exceed and keep getting better because I don't want to be, you know, constant. It's like an average player. You want to keep getting better and better until you retire until your time's come. What made you want to come to LSU? See, that I honestly don't know. I mean, I've had, I have, I had 20-something offers. I would talk to Florida, Bama in here. And I think, like,

I think it was kind of God, because at first, Alabama would kind of, it was, like, kind of like brushing me off their shoulders. Like, I would hear less and less from them. Same with Florida. I mean, Florida had a coaching change, too.

But I feel like it worked out perfect because every school, like, started talking to me less and except for LSU. So I think it was that was, like, the opening window, like, they actually care about me, so I'm going to come here.

But first, wanted to start, I mean, stay in Florida, because I'm from Fort Lauderdale, so I really liked UF, but again, they brushed me out their shoulders, and I think it just, everything was pointing to LSU, and I was like, but can I do that? And then it was just pointing LSU, so I think I just made the decision to come here. So that Bama game felt sweet then. Yeah, 100%. Yeah, 100%. You know, yeah, like, it's kind of got brushed up. Then you can get the two-hmm. Yeah, my dad. Rada made a mistake, too. That could have been a slam dunk. Yeah. Right. My dad is really good friends with Sabin because he played for him.

at the Dolphins. So that was that, he, I think he might have gave him a call after that game. Saban gave my dad a call and, and talk shit or whatever, but it was, it was your dad wanting you to go to Bammar,

play for Saban? Or how was your old man in this so then? Because obviously you come from a pedigree of Jason Taylor. I mean, Zach Thomas is in there, too. Like, how pivotal was your dad in all of this recruiting? I mean,

he let me do, make the right decisions and make my decision, like what I want to do, but he definitely wanted me to go to a big program, But he was, he was, he loves LSU now, but he, he loved Bama, LSU. He loved the top schools. He loved the SEC. He didn't want me going to ACC or anywhere like that.

He wanted me to go to big time. Slow it down a little bit. He didn't look at the Big Ten? There's a big time. Michigan offered you? No, Michigan didn't offer me. What about Nebraska? Does Nebraska have a shot?

They didn't offer me either. But no. My mind was focused on the SEC, too, at that point. Damn, bro. Bro. Yeah. You got these boys brainwashed out here in the South. Bumb?

I think he was happy with my decision. Yeah. When you left Florida, I came to Louisiana, like, what was it like acclimating to this kind of culture? Because it's a very unique culture. Yeah. A lot of French influence. Everyone here just rides with LSU always. It's got to be fun.

But, like, was there a difference for you between Florida and Louisiana? Not much except the food. I mean, the first couple weeks I got here, I gained maybe 15 pounds. Fast. Yeah. Freshment 15 quick. Yeah, exactly. So other than that, the food, I mean, the culture is different.

you have football here is like so important and you see fans everywhere at the airport screaming or like I've been screamed out of the airport. Mason Taylor like all that stuff. So the fans are definitely, fans are definitely crazy, but they're kind of, I want to say this in the nicest way. I would say bipolar. I mean, they kind of hate you one week. Yeah, hate you one week, love you the next.

So, I mean, it's definitely great, but at the same time it sucks kind of. But they're great fans. I mean, every Saturday they're in their past. backing it out, screaming on top of their lungs. So it's definitely a different culture, but I love it. It's like the Eagles vibe, the Philadelphia Eagles vibe. Yeah, Louisiana does have that Philly vibe. They love it so much.

Yeah. So if you lose or whatever, it just literally ruins. They're really passionate. All of them have a clock, you. When football season ends, it's like, fuck, dude, there's this many days till next football. Yeah. They're that excited about it. Yeah.

What should we hit with them next? What? Whatever you want? What was the laugh? I was just laughing at you? What was I doing my thing? thinking face? Yeah. Yeah, you got to think of where can you go with this? Like, do we ask him more about his old man? Your dad was a legend. What was it like growing up under his roof?

Did it suck at times? Was it like, y'all want to carve my own lane? Talk about growing up in that house. Yeah, I mean, a lot of people say, like, let him build his own path or whatever, but I don't, like, when people say, oh, Jason Deer's son, I don't mind it. It doesn't bother me at all. I mean, my dad did what he did in the league. I mean, yeah, I'm trying to create my own path too, but I don't mind when people say, oh, he's Jason to his son. People actually, some people get mad and they're like, oh, let him have his own past. I mentioned his dad, his uncle, blah, blah, blah. Like, I think that's cool, to be honest with them both playing football and being so good at what they're at.

But other than that, yeah, I mean, it wasn't anything crazy. I feel like, I feel like at a young age, I really didn't think of it like that. Yeah, I was like, my dad plays football, blah, blah, blah, but I didn't think he was like, he was like, like that good until I grew up and saw like what he did and actually as accomplished. So what, how old were you when you started figuring out like he was a savage and your uncle like Zach Thomas? Maybe my teens. Teens, I'd say.

Yeah. 11, 12, 13 when you start getting a phone and stuff like that. But. Yeah. People come over to your house and like, holy shit, dude. Yeah. Yeah. Dad.

Yeah. You know your dad. Wreck dudes, right? Yeah, dude. When, uh, when you look towards the future. NFL. Would you grow up as a fan of, the Dolphins? Yeah, you could say, I mean, I'm not really a fan of any NFL team. I don't watch the NFL. I think college is way more interesting to watch, but I'd say, yeah, the Dolphins is

my dad and uncle played for there. But what are you trying to say? Like, if I want to go anywhere. When you're looking, if you're thinking, like, out of the future, this is where I would want to play. I would want to go to Miami. You'd want to go to Miami? Yeah, not just because my dad was there, but just the area. I mean, I don't want to live in just a deal. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Somewhere freezing cold, yeah. But Miami out because living there and it's really nice and stuff like that. I want to live where I grew up. Who do you watch in the league and want to mold your game after? Like who are tight ends you watch weekend and week out? Travis Kelsey. Yeah. Travis Kelsey. George Kittles. Another good one.

Good boy. Andrews from Baltimore. But yeah, mainly Travis Kelsey. Because, I mean, a blocking all around George Kittles is amazing. But I think I think Travis Kelle is. Kelsey's route running opens up so many things Kansas City could do for them. So definitely watching him and just his routes and stuff like that. He just knows how to get open. I don't really know how to explain it. I mean, he just knows where people are going to be and just goes in between them and stuff like that. If you really watch it, it's really nice to see. But that's why I watch him probably the most out of everyone.

When you think about your personal development going from year one to year two, what are the major things that you think you should focus on to become a better all-around player? Definitely get stronger. you know, being 18 years old and the SEC is kind of hard putting your nose in there with all those defensive ends that are 6, 6, 270 and stuff like that.

So definitely get stronger, stronger, faster, definitely better blocking, catching too. I mean, just like almost like everything. A little bit of everything. What do you feel like you lack most? Probably past protection.

Because we, we, I also have tight ends. We block a lot in this program. So if that's, inside zone, outside zone and we'll probably pass pro maybe 10 times a game and we'll probably run block maybe 30, 40, 35 times

maybe half the plays probably running. So definitely yeah, blocking but I think past probably definitely need to work on. There's got to be a crazy level of anxiety you get when a play action pass is called on the back end because you're going against their pass rusher and you're usually by yourself

because the other offense linemen are in combination. That's got to be. Yeah, no, definitely. Definitely, and definitely when we're in a boundary or something like that, and we're going against their jack, their pass rusher. And you're putting me on their past rusher. It's like... And it's a crazy concept, too.

Put our All-American Will Campbell on them. Put Henry Jones on them. Why do I have the fucking block? Do you guys implement stuff in those calls where, let's say, the tackle and the guard are in combination, once they knows that their backers not coming, do they tell them to look out to help you? Yeah, there's some plays like that. Yeah. Because you need that.

And if I were you, if I was in your situation, what's that? That's what I was going to say. I would say, I would say, I would say that backer doesn't come. Hey, will, hey will. Right away. Look at this guy.

Look at this guy. Because it's like, you can be a great pass blocker as a tight end, but at the end of the day, like you weigh as much as the other individual and he is trained. You're more so trained to, right? You want to get in front of the guy and die a slow death.

He's trying to get to the quarterback and you want to catch the ball. Yeah. So it's like a way harder process. Like when you go through that, it's like, hey, just don't get beat inside. Yeah, but I try not have to jump at him too much.

You do not do that. Yeah, because if they and go right to the quarterback, that's all me. So I try not to jump at them. I kind of try to just stay patient. Main thing is I put my hands outside a lot, and I bet you any defense knows that was their tape. I put my hands outside.

So that's another thing I got to work on is putting my hands inside. But, yeah, other than that, pass protection, I definitely need to work on. What's the level of stress and pass protection? When the guy's inside you or head up on you or outside you? When you're like, man. Outside.

Outside. Outside. Outside you're by yourself. If he's inside, you can wash him into the tackle. Yeah, hopefully put him into legs or something. Yeah, exactly. Trip him up.

If he's outside of me, then I'm like, shit. You try to get that shitty past it in. Like, let me see what those boys been doing over there. And he's got inside, outside, through you to go through. Do you ever think about living and dying by the sort of like, hey, this is a play action? So I'm going to run at this guy and make him hopefully, hopefully he thinks it's a run. A run. No.

Or a lot of guys in the SEC are playing pass first. I think they'll play pass first. Yeah. If they're playing pass first, you got to. And you also got to. understand the sticks, right? Yeah, exactly. Second and ten, if to get back on track play, you need to get your ass play. Exactly. Exactly. What game are you looking forward to most this year? Forte State, 100%. 100%. The way we lost last year is brutal, and I think we have a lot

to prove this year. I mean, it was our first time. When we played them last year, it was our first time all together, new staff, a bunch of new players. So definitely, definitely Florida State. We got to get our lick back for sure. Yeah. growing up, because a lot of guys here are talking about how you, from a situational standpoint, like you understand the game and you're in that two-minute drive at the end of the game, were you thinking I got to get out of bounds right now? 100%. And how much does Coach Kelly preach like situational football, four minute, two-minute?

Yeah, we, yeah, four-minute, all these situations we do in practice. I mean, like yesterday or Tuesday, we had four periods of two-minute. Like in our coaches and meetings spend 15 minutes talking about it, about if you get the first down, clock stops. If we have so many different calls and signals for like if we need to get the first down and take a knee, like you can get down on the ground, we need to save time. I mean, they go through everything. So it's definitely really important. I think that's just one of those things that you're in that moment and the ball's coming your way and you know like, yeah, I need to catch this ball,

but I need to get my ass out of balance, you know what I mean? Right. So that was definitely what was going through my head right there is like, catch the ball. If you could score or score, but don't be a hero, don't be like trying to be a hero and get tackled on the one. We don't have any timeouts and the game's over, you know what I mean? So, yeah, my ass was headed right to that pylon. If I can get it, if it clears up, I'm going to go die for it, but if now I'm jumping out of bounds. And I saw, I saw there's a couple of dudes by that pylon and I'm like, yeah, let me get my ass out of bounds. I'm just sprinting over there

and just dove. I actually, one dude tried to swipe my feet on the way over there and I jumped over him and you see it on the replay my ankle, like I fucked up my ankle really bad when I did that, and I landed like this, and that's why I was stumbling, and that's when I dove out of bounds. He said I had a twist in my ankle really bad. And they said your knee was still in bounds,

or was your elbow? I think it was my knee. Yeah. That would have been alive, like, if they would have called it, his knee and there, the game would have been over. Since it was a first down, though, the clock stopped and we got another play.

If they called it right there down, then they would have spotted the ball, the ball would have been over. In those situational situations, what are you telling yourself going to the line? Like if you're in a two-minute situation, there's like 10 seconds left and you have to get a field goal. Like for guys that are watching this, looking up to you already, like, what are the things you tell yourself in your mind? Just stick to what you're taught. I mean, yeah, like you said, 10 seconds left, if you get the ball, get out of bounds.

If you catch the ball in bounds and you get a certain amount of yards, if you get the first down, get down, if you get a certain amount in the yard, and you get tackled, run the ball to the ref, and there will be a May Day call on a field goal team to start running on. So you've got to really think, and you've got to be smart in those situations so you don't screw over your team. But it's definitely a lot of pressure. But once we wrap it up in practice almost every day, and I think you just stick to the fundamentals

and what you're coached, and you'll be prepared for those moments. And making sure your teammates are, you know, sometimes you're getting late in the game, too. Everybody's just exhaust and everybody's just yelling. Yeah, you've got to keep your teammates accountable. No, don't toss the ball to run the ball to them. You know, Rable. You see the refs out there. Yes, bro.

You look at bad body ballers. Yeah, bad body ballers, yes. Zero hand-on. Run it to them. Yeah, there's a lot of situations. Yeah, what a tough way to go out too in that Florida State game. Yeah, we keep bringing that up. But the field goal at the end, it's tough.

The kid just made the field goal. It's been fine. This was solid. Yeah, man. We really appreciate you. He's got a lot to look forward to you being on the squad as long as you stay healthy. Yeah. And I'm sure your old man and watch this.

Hey, brother, big fan. we would love to have you on the bus one day as well. Just want to get that. And Zach Thomas, white linebacker. I'll hit them up. I'll hit them up. Yeah.

Thanks a lot, though, bro. This was awesome. We appreciate you. Yep, for sure. Big Cucks, tiny kiss to subscribe, like, rate, all the fun stuff. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe.

I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called. Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it.

First people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's, Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with

Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless and at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs

tennis podcast for no nonsense break of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments set to find Roland Garris. She's an outsider to win the French fame. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lennar Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcasts on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports.