By Hunt Palmer
LSU has produced some sensational wide receiver duos in the modern era. Michael Clayton and Josh Reed got things started. Dwayne Bowe and Early Doucet were stars, not to shortchange Brandon Lafell. Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry owned the early social media days. Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase took that to meteoric levels. Add Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas to the list. Nabers departs as the school’s all-time leader in career receptions and yards. Thomas led the nation in touchdown catches. Both heard their names called in the first round of the NFL Draft. Nabers and Thomas combined for 55 percent of LSU’s catches, 54 percent of the receiving yards and 70 percent of the receiving touchdowns. On one hand, that means a massive chunk of production must be replaced. On the other, it’s a great opportunity for some talented Tigers to break out.
WHO’S GONE: Malik Nabers (Draft), Brian Thomas, Jr. (Draft), Jalen Brown (Transfer), Khai Prean (Transfer), Gregory Clayton, Jr. (Graduation)
WHO’S BACK: Kyren Lacy, Chris Hilton, Jr., Aaron Anderson, Kyle Parker, Shelton Sampson, Landon Ibieta, Javen Nicholas
WHO’S NEW: CJ Daniels (Transfer, Liberty), Zavion Thomas (Transfer, Mississippi State), Jelani Watkins (Freshman), Kylan Billiot (Freshman)
LSU sends enough stars to the NFL Draft for Tiger fans to understand the replacement process. “Next Man Up” sounds swell. Sometimes the next man up isn’t as good. That’s just reality. When the Tigers took to the field for Fall Camp, my instinct was to have some concern at wide receiver. Nabers and Thomas were elite college wide outs. Just because the next guy has on a gold helmet doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to be able to fill those proverbial shoes. Kyren Lacy had a nice year last season. He caught 30 passes for 558 yards and seven scores. Did you read the names at the top of this piece? There’s a gap between 30 for 558 and those dudes. As of three weeks ago, Lacy was a ULL product and proven third option to me. I feel differently today. Lacy is ready to be a No. 1 target. I believe he’ll top 1000 yards and make some huge plays for LSU this year. He has been brilliant in camp, start to finish. He’s made plays one-on-one. He’s made plays in seven-on-seven. He’s dominated in the red zone. I’m not ready to put Lacy in the first round of this year’s draft, but he’s moving in the right direction.
One more time on Thomas and Nabers. Please. You know who came in with those guys? Chris Hilton. All three were Top 10 players in that Louisiana crop, and Hilton was more highly rated than the other two. The Zachary product’s problem hasn’t been poor play. It’s been injuries. Well, he’s healthy now. Kind of. Hilton looked great through the first three weeks of camp and missed practice over the weekend with what Brian Kelly called a bone bruise. He’s expected to return for USC prep as early as this weekend. Hilton has track level speed and plenty of size now to fight with SEC defenders. He’s worked on his route running and technique for three years, and he’s ready to make his impact. I wouldn’t bet against Hilton in 2024.
CJ Daniels enjoyed a productive run at Liberty. He went over 1000 yards and scored 10 receiving touchdowns for the Flames last year. In the transfer portal era, some players step up in class and handle it beautifully. Some wilt. At 6-foot-2 and 205lbs, Daniels has the build to step up. He’s a good athlete and showed the ability to create yards after the catch last season. Daniels is considered a probably second day NFL Draft choice who should be rock solid for the Tigers in 2024.
Lacy, Hitlon and Daniels have established themselves as the clear Top 3 options. The remaining snaps will likely come from four other players.
Zavion Thomas had to watch Zach Arnett’s Mississippi State staff turn a well-oiled passing game into a pile of steaming garbage last year. Will Rogers, who was on pace to become the conference’s all time leading passer, looked like he had been dropped on a foreign planet much of the season. So, take Thomas’s 40 catches for 503 yards and a touchdown and make the necessary adjustments. That was a damn productive year in that offense. While his biggest impact is very likely to come in the return game, Thomas’s speed and elusiveness will be used in the screen game as well.
Thomas was brought in to do the same types of things Aaron Anderson was thought to do last year. A prep standout at Karr, Anderson went to Alabama and got hurt. He returned home to LSU and opened the season as the Tigers’ punt and kickoff returner. One muffed punt later, he was spending more time on the sideline than in the slot. Anderson still looks shifty in some practices, but there is concern that the injury two years ago has taken a little of that burst away.
Kyle Parker and Shelton Sampson got lost in the shuffle last year. There just wasn’t enough playing time to be had. They’ll fight that same battle this year. Sampson didn’t do himself any favors with a pair of drops in Week 2 against Grambling. He was young. Still is. Early in camp he made a couple of highlight reel catches. Guys who stand 6-foot-4 and can jump have a tendency to do that. For Sampson, it will be more about consistency than ability. Parker has gotten some looks in the punt return game. That’s an indication of some trust by the staff. He’s a tireless worker and great route runner. Right now, it feels like his time may come when Lacy, Hilton and Daniels move on after the season.
