Kole Taylor Brings 'Something New' to West Virginia's Offense

Hey, look, it's a pass-catching tight end!

West Virginia tight ends caught 16 passes for 153 yards and zero touchdowns a year ago. The leading receiver at the position, Mike O'Laughlin hauled in five receptions for a grand total of 66 yards.

This wasn't just a down year for the tight end room in terms of the production in the passing game, it's been an area that WVU has been unable to tap into since Neal Brown's arrival in 2019. Much of that can be attributed to O'Laughlin's injury history and not having another true receiving tight end backing him up. 

This year, that changes. That's the goal, at least.

"Last year we had the ability to run the ball but we didn't take advantage of that as well as we should have," said head coach Neal Brown. "Meaning some movement in the pass [game], getting the tight ends in the flats or using the tight ends vertical off some run action pass stuff. We just didn't do a good enough job of that."

LSU transfer Kole Taylor is looking to fill the role of a pass-catching tight end and if he does, it'll unlock a part of the offense that will give opposing teams another thing to worry about. 

"He's long. He's 6'6" plus. He's open. I call it open by birth," Brown said jokingly. "He's got a distinct advantage over the linebackers and safeties he's playing and a lot of times that's four and five inches. That's why we brought him here. We brought him because we thought he'd be an able blocker and we'd be able to put him in positions where he could help us in the run game but to give us a vertical threat downfield and a guy that we could throw the ball to and make a play after the catch. It's up to us to make sure we put him in those situations where he can be successful."

In three years at LSU, Taylor was primarily used as a blocking tight end but flashed his ability to haul in passes here and there, totaling 17 receptions for 159 yards and a touchdown.

"I think he brings experience," tight ends coach Blaine Stewart said. "He's played in major college football. He's played in atmospheres that we're going to play in this fall and I think he brings a mindset of professionalism. He comes to work every day. His athletic ability speaks for itself. He runs really well for a big man. He has good ball skills. We're just trying to find a way for him to continue to build, not too fast, but by the end of spring ball, feel very comfortable in every spot in our offense."

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