Brian Kelly lists Mason Taylor as game-time decision, Omar Speights doubtful for Week 3

LSU’s Mason Taylor is a game-time decision for this weekend’s matchup against Mississippi State, head coach Brian Kelly said on Wednesday evening. He also said that Omar Speights will travel with the team, but Kelly feels less optimistic 48 hours away from gametime. He’s currently listed as doubtful. The news was relayed on Wednesday evening by Wilson Alexander of The Advocate.

Thus far through two games, Taylor has hauled in five catches for 39 receiving yards and one touchdown. In 2022, he hauled in 38 catches for 414 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

If Speights cannot play, the Tigers will roll with Greg Penn, Whit Weeks, and West Weeks at inside linebacker. Kelly also noted that Harold Perkins will stay outside and on the edge. Those tidbits of information were once again relayed by Wilson Alexander.

Kelly also updated the status of Taylor and Speights on Monday

For the second time this season, LSU will be playing away from home. A road trip to Starkville will be the Tigers’ SEC opener, facing off against Mississippi State.

On Monday, Kelly listed both tight end Mason Taylor and linebacker Omar Speights as “probable” for Saturday’s matchup. He did not dive into too much detail, just giving their status on the injury report.

“We have two probables,” Kelly said. “Probable is Mason Taylor and probable is Omar Speights.”

Taylor has played in both games this season but suffered an ankle injury against Grambling State.

As for Speights, his exact injury of Speights is not known. Kelly decided to just list his status during his Monday press conference. However, he did not play in the second half of Grambling State.

Speights was somebody LSU brought in via the NCAA transfer portal. He had a successful career out West with Oregon State — his hometown school. He decided to transfer to the SEC in order to win a national championship with the Tigers.

“When I was in the portal, my big decision maker was I wanted to go somewhere that had the opportunity to win a national championship,” Speights said during spring practice. “I felt like Coach Kelly was on the verge of doing that here. Ultimately my decision to come here was, it just felt like home. When I took my visit, they made it feel like home and they made feel like it was a place where I was wanted.”

Speights is now in his fifth season of playing college football. He has been a heavy contributor in the past and is off to a decent start with LSU. Nine tackles have been recorded by the linebacker in his first two games in the purple and gold.

Starting the 2023 SEC campaign with a win will be critical for LSU getting back to Atlanta this season. The Tigers won last year’s matchup, 31-16. LSU and Mississippi State will play on Saturday, Sept. 16. Kickoff is set for Noon EST. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh also contributed to this article.