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HomeTeam Huddle: Spotlight on Robinson RB Taquan Mason

 
Taquan Mason
Taquan Mason
Published May 3, 2016

TAMPA — After graduating pocket-passing quarterback Malik Tyson and standout wide receivers Iyan Mitchell and JJ Henderson — who combined for nearly 1,000 yards receiving last season — Robinson likely will be much more of a run-heavy offense this year, coach Shawn Taylor reports.

But with a promising new running back in the mix, that's something that gets the coach excited.

Sophomore Taquan Mason played on junior varsity last year, but this season he'll be playing on Friday nights, and Taylor expects him to make a huge difference. Mason will join fellow running back Anfernee Alston, who rushed for 774 yards as a junior before tearing his ACL in the final game of the season.

And though Alston is still rehabbing — Taylor expects him to be ready to go for the start of the 2016 season — he's already taken Mason under his wing.

"It's really tough to get the plays down, but I'm starting to get a hang of it," Mason said about the jump from JV to varsity. "My footwork has gotten a lot better. (Anfernee) actually coached me up to get my footwork better."

Mason's highlights from last season show a running back who is tough to bring down, and that's exactly what Taylor expects from his sophomore stud. And though he and Alston are different in the way that they carry the ball, he's confident they'll make an excellent team.

"Anfernee is a physical runner, but he's also elusive. He's both," Taylor said. "Taquan is downhill. He's a gap, power-I guy who will mow you down."