Brian Kelly did not hold back his praise of freshman tight end Mason Taylor.

During his radio show on Thursday, Kelly called Taylor as good as any freshman tight end he’s ever coached and compared him to Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.

“He’s going to hit like the kid from Georgia hit,” Kelly said, and called Taylor the No. 1 surprise of fall camp. “We hit a home run.”

Taylor is listed at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds from Plantation, Florida. Given Taylor’s family, it’s not a surprise. He comes from a football family as he dad Jason is an NFL Hall of Famer, and his uncle Zach Thomas is also a former NFL standout.

Kelly has praised Taylor for days throughout fall camp with a similar message.

“Probably one of the biggest, pleasant surprises has been Mason Taylor,” Kelly said following Thursday’s practice, which was open to the media, per Tiger Rag. “He’s ready to help us win this year and play for us. He’s been outstanding. I feel so much better about that position because of his presence and the way he’s shown himself.”

H/T Wilson Alexander and Koki Riley.