Whether he decides to opt out after this season or return to school for a fourth season, LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green will always remember the formative part of his journey toward potentially becoming a high-round NFL draft selection.
“Early in my career, when I first made it to LSU, I didn’t even know how to get into a three-point stance,” Green said Tuesday during an interview with local media. “Going on through the years, and learning different defenses, different coverages. Learning it’s not always about the result of the play. It’s what you can do.
“What are the little things because the little things matter and turn into the big things,” Green said. “Learning the different things about football. I feel I’m more intelligent on the field. It helps a lot.”
The 6-foot-7, 242-pound Green returned from a knee injury after missing three weeks, making it back in time for LSU’s 38-17 Southeastern Conference victory at Auburn. He caught five passes for 50 yards and scored his second touchdown of the season before the Tigers went into a bye week.
No. 15 LSU (6-2, 3-2 in the SEC) is back in action Saturday, hosting No. 10 Alabama (6-2, 4-2) at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 in Tiger Stadium.
“I feel ready to go. I feel amazing,” he said. “The doctors had a good plan for me. It’s just trusting their process, trusting the coaches’ process and just listening to everything they had planned for me. I feel amazing.
“I had no doubt in my mind that I was going to be back at 100%,” Green said. “The reason why I had no doubt in my mind was because of my teammates. The tight end position … the room … I just knew they were going to step up when I see the way those guys come in and work every day. They meet the standard that I meet. There was no fall off.”
LSU offense revving up
There’s little debate about what a healthy Green means to LSU’s offense, which ranks fourth nationally in total offense with 510 yards a game and seventh in scoring at 40.1 points per game.
With redshirt junior Sam Leavitt leading the offense, the Tigers welcomed back Green against Auburn and built a 21-10 lead at halftime. Leavitt ranks 11th in completion percentage (70.3), averages 217.3 passing yards per game and is tied for 19th in touchdown passes.
“I watch Sam come in every day and keep the main thing the main thing,” said Green, who had a 15-yard TD catch against Auburn that made it 17-3. “I watch him be our QB1 and watch him lead us. He’s just a guy that works hard. He wants to be perfect, and I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side.”
Green had a keen perspective of his teammates during his three-game absence following his injury against Ole Miss.
“I saw how our team fought for each other,” he said. “We lost a lot of important players that have big roles on this team, and just to watch my teammates go out and play for their brothers. It just shows the love we have for each other in this building.”
Gaining a physical mindset
Green, who began his high school career at East Feliciana before transferring to Zachary as a senior, acknowledged his shortsighted view of the game and how much his perspective has changed during his third season in college.
“Being a basketball player, I just wanted to come in and catch touchdowns and celebrate,” he said. “I didn’t really want to hit or be physical. As I’ve grown and learned the game of football, and learned the position itself, I have to be physical. Once I started being physical it opened up so much more for me. I get yards after (the) catch, I can turn 5-yard hitches into 10-yard gains. I love being physical.”
Green, a second-team All-SEC selection by the coaches in 2025, had a season-high six catches for 104 yards and a touchdown in a 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech. He had a team-best four catches for 40 yards but was injured late in the Ole Miss game and had to leave. He missed the team’s next three games.
Hawaii transfer Jackson Harris has helped fill the void left by Green with 36 catches for 634 yards and seven touchdowns, followed by Winston Watkins (37 catches, 487 yards, two touchdowns), Eugene Wilson (27 catches, 284 yards, one touchdown) and Green (19 catches, 272 yards, two touchdowns).
“Jackson, he’s one great player,” Green said. “He’s a helluva player. The way he works, the way our whole receiver corps works, I don’t think the fans have seen nothing yet because everybody on the offense can go.”
Green acknowledged watching the LSU-Alabama series growing up but said he remains focused on taking things one day at a time.
“It’s another game to me,” Green said. “Coming in and keeping the main thing, the main thing. We want to go 1-0 every week and we want to treat the game on Saturday like any opponent.
“Growing up as a kid watching Alabama versus LSU is such a legendary game,” Green said. “This was the game that all of the fans were waiting on and we do have the best fans.”
