By Hunt Palmer
Trey’Dez Green’s childhood dreams revolved around basketball.
On the hardwood, Green’s 6-foot-7 size fits right in. On the gridiron, he stands out. That made him a five-star football recruit and a bit of an afterthought in the college basketball world. Green certainly had opportunities to play both sports in college, but football became the focal point late in his prep career.
After a solid freshman season on the LSU football team that ended with a pair of touchdown catches in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl, he made the transition over to the Tiger basketball team that had started SEC play.
Green played in six games and scored 11 points with 10 rebounds. He also lost more 30 pounds. He walked off the football field at 252 in December and came back for spring football three months later at 219.
He has upped his weight back to 245 as his second football season approaches, and he feels like a new player.
“I’m very proud of myself,” Green said. “I feel like I did a very hard task last year playing football and basketball. I feel that all my time is focused on football right now. Me starting playing football in 10th grade, I didn’t really know anything about football. As of this year, I’m starting to understand the offense more. It makes me play faster. I can just get to my spot and do what I need to do to help the team when.”
Green is making plays every day from his tight end position, using that 6-foot-7 frame and basketball leaping ability to tower over helpless defenders for big catches and touchdowns.
He did that last year while armed with very little football acumen. That’s begin to come more quickly which can be terrifying to opposing defenses.
“I wasn’t playing to my best ability,” Green said. “I was thinking a lot because I didn’t know the offense. I understand the offense more. I’m able to sit in the soft spots of the zones, and I’m more knowledgeable of the game of football. I’m still learning new things. This is a cover two defense. This is a cover three. I’ve still got to improve at that aspect.”
The other piece to the puzzle is blocking.
On the basketball court, Green looked like a physically imposing player. On the football field, he’s comparatively skinny. Freshman JD LaFluer outweighs him by 10 lbs., and senior Bauer Sharp, who is two inches shorter, has about five lbs on Green as well.
Since his arrival in the spring, Sharp has been doing what he can to tutor Green’s immense talent.
“He gives off a lot of traits that Mason (Taylor) did with being a veteran leader towards me,” Green said. “He’s been teaching me the mindset. I’m bigger than everybody, so I should play like I’m bigger than everybody. He’s amazing.”
As a freshman, four of Green’s 14 grabs went for touchdowns, and all four came in the red zone where he’s a significant matchup problem for defenses.
Green’s best work figures to come around the line of scrimmage where quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s ball placement high and away from defenders can be more precise. For Green to have room to operate in the middle of the field, LSU will need to stretch things vertically.
That was a huge problem for the Tiger offense a season ago which caused things to get a little bit crowded in the intermediate passing game.
That should be an issue with this revamped wide receiver corps.
“We’ve got plenty of weapons,” Green said. “Our depth is so deep on this team. This is the best team I’ve ever been a part of. It’s great. Everybody keeps fresh legs. (The Wide receivers) are track stars, man. Everybody runs 22 mph or higher.”
Armed with a better understanding of the offense, a fleet of gazelles on the outside and a fifth-year quarterback coming off of a 4,000-yard season, Green is primed for a special fall. Perhaps he’ll dip his toe back into his first love of basketball when the season ends. Maybe not. That decision is still to be made.
“I miss it, but I can say that I did it at one of the highest levels,” Green said. “I did that last year, and now I’m full football focused.”
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