Nick Saban’s Biggest Recruiting Mistake at Alabama: The Story of Mason Taylor

For almost two decades, Nick Saban ruled college football with an iron grip.
As the head coach at Alabama, he constructed perhaps the most dominant dynasty the sport has ever seen: six national championships, dozens of first-round NFL Draft picks, and a standard of excellence few programs could match.

Yet even the greatest make mistakes.

During coverage of the 2025 NFL Draft, Saban — now retired from coaching — offered a rare glimpse into his own regrets.
When asked about his biggest recruiting miss at Alabama, Saban didn’t hesitate: Mason Taylor.

His answer surprised many.
But for those who followed Taylor’s career — from his high school days at St. Thomas Aquinas to his heroic performances at LSU — it made perfect sense.

Let’s dive deep into the story behind Nick Saban’s biggest recruiting regret: how Alabama lost Mason Taylor, how it changed the SEC landscape, and what it reveals about the razor-thin margins between glory and heartbreak in college football.

Who Is Mason Taylor?

Before we break down the recruiting saga, it’s important to understand just who Mason Taylor is.

• Background:
  Taylor is the son of NFL Hall of Fame pass rusher Jason Taylor and the nephew of linebacker legend Zach Thomas.
  Born into football royalty, Taylor had elite genetics and grew up with an NFL mindset from a young age.
• High School Career:
  Taylor attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida — a perennial powerhouse that produced countless college and NFL stars.
  By his junior and senior seasons, Taylor had blossomed into a physical, athletic tight end known for his soft hands, crisp route running, and blocking toughness.
• Recruiting Profile:
  Despite his NFL bloodlines and standout performances, Taylor was regarded more as a “solid” prospect than a sure-fire five-star.
  Recruiting services ranked him a high three-star or low four-star, and some college programs wavered on whether he was truly elite.

This, it turns out, would prove to be a crucial mistake.

Alabama’s Recruitment of Mason Taylor

According to Saban, Alabama had Taylor in for a camp session — and Taylor dominated.

Nick Saban on ABC’s NFL Draft Broadcast:
“This guy was the best tight end we had in camp.”

And yet… something held Alabama back.

Instead of offering Taylor immediately, the Crimson Tide hesitated.
They “shuffled around,” debating whether he fit their scheme, whether other targets were higher priorities, and whether Taylor had the raw athletic upside Saban demanded.

Meanwhile, LSU — led by new head coach Brian Kelly — swooped in with a full-court press.
Taylor connected with LSU’s staff, loved the opportunity to play early, and made his commitment to the Tigers.

By the time Alabama circled back and made a late push, it was too late.
Taylor stayed loyal to LSU — and the consequences would be devastating for Alabama.

Mason Taylor’s Career at LSU

Taylor didn’t just play for LSU — he became a cornerstone of the Tigers’ offense almost immediately.

Freshman Year (2022):

• 38 receptions, 414 yards, 3 touchdowns
• Named Freshman All-SEC
• Most notably, caught the game-winning 2-point conversion against Alabama in a thrilling overtime victory.

Sophomore and Junior Seasons (2023–24):

• Combined for 91 catches, 894 yards, and 5 more touchdowns.
• Developed into one of the most reliable third-down options in the SEC.
• Emerged as a team leader both on and off the field.

Signature Moment:
In 2022, LSU faced Alabama in Death Valley under the lights.
After a gutsy decision by Brian Kelly to go for two in overtime, quarterback Jayden Daniels found Mason Taylor open in the end zone — and Taylor made the catch that ended Alabama’s playoff hopes that season.

Nick Saban reflecting:
“He beats us and knocks us out of the playoffs.”

It was a stunning turn of events — one that haunted Alabama fans and coaches alike.

Why Did Alabama Miss?

It’s almost unfathomable that a program as dominant as Alabama could miss so badly on a player they had personally evaluated in camp.

So what happened?

Several factors contributed:

1. Overthinking Physical Tools:
   Alabama often prioritized elite, prototype measurables.
   While Taylor had good size (6’5″, 255 lbs), he wasn’t a 4.5-speed freak or a combine-testing monster.
   Other prospects, like five-star Jaleel Skinner, seemed to have higher athletic ceilings on paper.
2. Recruiting Board Politics:
   Big programs like Alabama rank players early — and sometimes those early evaluations become hard to shift, even when players outperform expectations at camp.
3. Coaching Transition:
   Alabama had coaching staff changes around that time, including turnover at offensive coordinator and tight ends coach.
   Mixed signals internally may have cost Taylor a clean path to an offer.
4. Taylor’s Loyalty:
   Once LSU offered early and built a relationship, Taylor felt a deep loyalty to the Tigers.
   Alabama’s late push came across as second-choice interest — and Taylor wasn’t about to be anyone’s Plan B.

Draft Day Vindication

Fast-forward to April 2025.
Mason Taylor — once a three-star kid some schools hesitated to offer — heard his name called with the 42nd overall pick in the NFL Draft.

The New York Jets made him the second tight end off the board, praising his polish, blocking toughness, route-running savvy, and NFL bloodlines.

Nick Saban during the broadcast:
“This guy is an outstanding player, and he’s got the right mental makeup.”

It wasn’t just a personal triumph for Taylor.
It was vindication — proof that sometimes, heart, IQ, and feel for the game matter more than testing numbers.

What Mason Taylor Represents

To understand the full weight of Saban’s comments, you have to recognize what Mason Taylor’s story symbolizes:

• The Human Side of Recruiting:
  Even at the highest level, coaches are guessing.
  They use every tool available — film, camp evaluations, analytics — but at the end of the day, they are trying to project an 18-year-old’s future.
• The Cost of Hesitation:
  In the SEC, hesitating on a player can lose you games — and championships.
  Alabama’s delay not only cost them Taylor — it may have cost them a playoff berth in 2022.
• Legacy:
  Taylor’s heroics against Alabama are now part of SEC lore.
  One small recruiting mistake shaped a rivalry, an entire season, and two programs’ destinies.

Final Thoughts from Nick Saban

Saban’s honesty about Mason Taylor is notable.
Most coaches, even after retirement, would downplay recruiting misses or shift blame.

Not Saban.
He took full responsibility, even jokingly suggesting that he should have overruled the process:

“Biggest recruiting mistake we ever made.”

It’s a reminder that even legends aren’t perfect — but it’s their willingness to own mistakes, learn from them, and evolve that keeps them great.Lessons from the Mason Taylor Miss

In a career spanning nearly 50 years, Nick Saban built the greatest dynasty college football has ever seen.

He developed 44 first-round picks.
He won 6 national championships at Alabama.
He changed the sport forever.

And yet — the story of Mason Taylor stands as a powerful lesson:
Even the best can’t predict everything.

One missed opportunity.
One moment of hesitation.
One player who slipped through the cracks.

It’s a story about humility.
A story about the human side of football.
A story that, fittingly, even the GOAT was willing to tell himself.

And for Mason Taylor — and LSU — it’s a story of what happens when belief, loyalty, and opportunity collide.

A recruiting miss for Alabama.
A triumph for a young man with NFL dreams.

And a story no college football fan will soon forget.