LSU’s wide receiver room has some big shoes to fill this fall.
[autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] are off to the NFL. Together, they combined for 2,746 yards and 31 touchdowns on 157 catches last year.
The two accounted for 62.3% of LSU’s receiving yards and 40% of all offensive touchdowns. That’s a huge chunk of production LSU needs to replace.
With Nabers and Thomas swallowing up so many targets, LSU doesn’t have much experience waiting in the wings. [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] were decent supplemental options last year, combining for 66 catches and 906 yards.
But what LSU lacks in experience, it could make up for in speed. Last week, receiver [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] took to social media posting what can be assumed was his tracked speed at a workout. 23.3 miles per hour.
23.3 mph….
— Chris Hilton jr. (@iamchrishilton1) February 1, 2024
That’s elite speed, and he’s not the only one. Hilton will be joined by a few other guys that can fly.
[autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] caught just 12 passes last year after transferring from Alabama, but in high school, he was a track star in Louisiana.
[autotag]Jelani Watkins[/autotag], a key member of LSU’s 2024 class who signed last December, is set to join the fold too.
Watkins is one of the fastest players in the country, winning the Texas state title in the 200-meter.
We've have a new No. 1 in our boys indoor rankings!
Jelani Watkins of Atascocita (TX) surges up to the top spot.
Check out the full list 📈: https://t.co/UhShe5tiEe pic.twitter.com/xTIsD5CsFq
— MileSplit US (@milesplit) January 25, 2024
What does this mean for LSU on the field?
Speed doesn’t always translate and there’s plenty more that goes into being a good receiver. It’s also nothing new. Nabers and Thomas could also fly and it’s hard to imagine LSU’s downfield passing attack getting any better than it was last year.
But the speed LSU will have in that room could help keep LSU among the most explosive offenses in the country.
LSU might not have anyone who can adjust to the ball in the air and make plays at the level of Nabers and Thomas, but it can make up for it with guys who can consistently take the top off a defense.
With [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] at QB, who’s shown he won’t hesitate to let it fly, expect LSU to take plenty of deep shots in 2024.
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