Tag: Chris Hilton Jr

LSU WR CJ Daniels listed as a transfer to watch in Week 1

CJ Daniels could be a major impact player for the Tigers this fall.

With Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. off to the NFL, it will be a largely new-look receiving corps for LSU in 2024.

The next guys up who were already on the roster are [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag], who are expected to start on the outside this fall. But perhaps the most intriguing name in the room is [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag], a Liberty transfer who will take over the slot role this fall.

Daniels was a 1,000-yard receiver for the Flames last season and finds himself on the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list. On3’s Jesse Simonton listed him among transfers to watch in Week 1 when the Tigers face USC in Las Vegas on Sunday night.

The Tigers must replace a pair of first-round receivers, so they went out and portal’d in one of the most explosive playmakers from the G5. Daniels finished second in C-USA with 1,067 receiving yards, with 10 touchdowns on 55 receptions.

On Sunday night in Las Vegas, the Baton Rouge native will get to square up against USC’s revamped secondary which features as many as five new starters. It will be interesting to see if he has immediate chemistry with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.

It’s unclear how big of a role Daniels will play in the offense, especially with players like Lacy poised for a breakout. But if his production from the Group of Five ranks translates to the SEC, it could be a major boon for an LSU offense that is replacing a lot of production at the skill positions, across the board.

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LSU’s Brian Kelly provides clarity on wide receiver depth

Brian Kelly offered some clarity on LSU’s wide receiver depth.

There are few questions about the depth chart at the top of LSU’s offense. At wide receiver, LSU’s managed a stable trio throughout the offseason. [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] took starting jobs early and didn’t look back.

But at the second level, the answers weren’t so clear. LSU has several players who could make a case to be WR4. We now have some clarity. With Hilton questionable for Saturday’s season-opener against USC, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said the next man up is sophomore [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag].

Parker filled in for Hilton at practice and Kelly said he had a strong camp. Parker entered college as a strong route runner, giving him the tools to play early. It was tough to get on the field as a freshman, especially with the strength LSU had at receiver, but now the chance is there.

LSU signed a talented bunch of receivers in 2023. By the end of the year, there were some signs Parker separated from the group. That included playing six snaps in the bowl game against Wisconsin.

Parker is still waiting on his first college target, but it sounds like the wait may not be much longer. Along with Parker, expect [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag] to be in the mix. Both players offer playmaking ability with the ball in their hands.

If LSU is forced to move further down the depth chart, sophomore [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag] is still waiting on his chance, too.

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LSU WR Chris Hilton Jr. questionable for season-opener vs. USC with bone bruise

Chris Hilton Jr. is dealing with a bone bruise while guard Miles Frazier was listed as probable in Monday’s injury report from Brian Kelly.

LSU is preparing to travel to Las Vegas to begin the 2024 season against USC on Sunday, and it could be without one of its starting receivers in that game.

Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] updated the injury report heading into the week on Monday and said that [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] is questionable for Sunday’s season-opener after suffering a bone bruise.

“He has a bone bruise, he is working through that process but today he’ll be listed in that category,” Kelly said.

Hilton has dealt with injuries and being buried on the depth chart through his first three seasons, but he’s coming off a career-best 225-yard, two-touchdown campaign in which he appeared in 11 games with two starts.

Kelly said Hilton was listed as questionable because the training staff hadn’t seen him get the opportunity to “move around.”

If he’s unable to play, redshirt freshman [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag] would get the starting nod. Parker appeared in four games as a true freshman last fall but was not targeted.

Kelly also listed starting right guard [autotag]Miles Frazier[/autotag] on the injury report as probable. The former FIU transfer enters his third year as a starter at LSU, and if he isn’t able to suit up, the Tigers will turn to one of their redshirt freshman depth pieces in [autotag]Tyree Adams[/autotag] or [autotag]Paul Mubenga[/autotag].

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LSU WR Chris Hilton Jr. suffers ankle injury in fall camp, not expected to be serious

Chris Hilton Jr. was held out of Saturday’s scrimmage with an ankle injury, but it isn’t expected to be serious.

An offensive player who LSU will rely heavily on in 2024 was notably absent due to injury as the team scrimmaged on Saturday.

Receiver [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] didn’t participate after suffering an ankle injury, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said. However, the decision was precautionary, and Kelly said the injury wasn’t expected to be serious.

“I think he’ll be alright, it was an ankle,” Kelly said. “Didn’t seem to be high ankle or something that would be affecting him for long-term, much more about a precautionary ankle right now.”

Hilton has been plagued by injuries during his career as he was limited to just four games in each of his first two seasons. However, he appeared in 11 games last year and finished with 225 yards and two touchdowns on 13 catches, all career highs.

Though he has minimal production at this point in his career, he’s a potential breakout candidate after he’s spent his first three seasons buried on the depth chart.

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LSU receiver CJ Daniels discusses why he left Liberty for LSU

LSU wide receiver CJ Daniels on why he transferred to LSU.

When LSU receiver [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] spoke to the media last week, he revealed why he decided to transfer to LSU.

“For me, I was looking to play at the highest level. It’s every kid’s dream and I think LSU was the perfect spot for me, just because of the legacy of receivers. I’ve been an LSU fan just based on the receivers that come in and out of here,” Daniels said.

Daniels embraces the opportunity to catch passes from LSU QB [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] too.

“That’s my guy,” Daniels said of Nussmeier, “I can ask him about anything, whether it’s on the field or off the field. We’ve been doing a lot behind the scenes that’s helping our chemistry and I’m really excited for this upcoming season that he’s going to have.”

According to On3, Daniels was the No. 100 ranked transfer this cycle. That makes him LSU’s top-rated transfer of the cycle.

Daniels took some time to adjust as he got acclimated in the spring, but he’s taken control of a starting spot in fall camp. Daniels, alongside [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag], has a chance to form one of the top receiving trios in the SEC.

LSU needs it after losing [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] to the NFL draft.

By all accounts, Daniels is ready to play at an SEC level. His numbers at Liberty were some of the most efficient in the sport and he adds needed experience to LSU’s WR group.

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Brian Kelly expects big things from LSU WR Chris Hilton Jr. in 2024

After three years battling injuries and being buried on the depth chart, Chris Hilton Jr. could be poised to break out in 2024.

A lot of the discussion about LSU’s offseason has centered around the receiving corps and how the Tigers will replace a pair of first-round draft picks in [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag].

There’s still talent at wideout with [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] potentially poised for a breakout and [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] coming in after a 1,000-yard season at Liberty in 2023. But another returning player who could finally make a major impact is [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag]

After injuries limited his first two seasons in Baton Rouge, Hilton played in 11 games with two starts in 2023, finishing with 13 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns, all career highs.

Now that he will likely be thrust into a starting role, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] had a lot of positive things to say about the work Hilton has put in this offseason.

“It’s his time. He’s waited patiently. I think he’s put himself in a great position physically,” Kelly said. “He’s healthy, he’s worked for it, he’s put in the time in the offseason. He had a really good spring and I think he’s had a good camp. He’s caught the ball, he’s been effective, I expect him to have a really good season for us.

“He’s a deep-ball threat, but he’s shown a proficiency in terms of his route-running. He’s gotten better since even preseason camp… I think that learning curve for him is real, and he’s gotten better each and every day. But I think he’s going to be a real impact player for us this year.”

With a new starting quarterback as well in [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], the Tigers need to be able to trust their talent out wide to make plays. Hilton has shown those flashes, and he could be poised for a breakout campaign in 2024.

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Brian Kelly says Kyren Lacy has ’embraced’ role of No. 1 receiver

Kyren Lacy could be poised for a breakout season in 2024.

LSU has a great deal of questions to answer as it begins fall camp ahead of the 2024 season, but perhaps the biggest uncertainty on the entire roster is who will emerge to replace first-round receivers [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag]

The clear candidate is fifth-year wideout [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], who enters his third season in Baton Rouge after transferring from UL-Lafayette. Lacy has had solid production the last two years despite facing fierce competition for targets, and now, he could be poised for a breakout.

Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said that Lacy has “embraced” being the top option for this team and wants to follow in the lineage of elite LSU wideouts.

“I would say that he has embraced that,” Kelly said. “Some guys don’t embrace it, they just continue to be who they are. He’s embraced that and wants to be that next great wide receiver at LSU. We have such a great tradition, so he wants to live up to that standard.

“I’ve seen a great deal of growth… It’s been fun to watch that maturation.”

Lacy and [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] are LSU’s top returning receivers, and transfer [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] as well as redshirt freshman [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag] are expected to make an impact as well, among others.

But on a team that featured Nabers, Thomas and Mason Taylor, Lacy still managed 558 yards and seven touchdowns on 30 catches. With him potentially becoming the top target in 2024, it’s easy to see how he could break 1,000 yards this fall.

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Brian Kelly explains how LSU will replace lost production at receiver in 2024

Brian Kelly explained how LSU will replace Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. this fall.

While much of the attention has been placed on LSU’s new starting quarterback in 2024, [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], perhaps the even bigger question revolves around who he’ll be throwing to.

The Tigers lost their top two pass-catchers from last year in [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], and while there’s talent on the roster, replacing two of the nation’s most productive receivers isn’t going to be easy.

The obvious next-man-up is [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], who enters his fifth season of college football poised to be the top option after turning in a productive 2023 season despite not seeing as many targets as Nabers and Thomas.

“I don’t think you look towards one player,” coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said Monday at SEC Media Days per On3. “I think when we look at our football team in its totality, there will be a number of players that we’ll count on. Kyren Lacey, he will be certainly a player that we lean on. But I think at the wide receiver position, there is probably six to eight players that will get the opportunity to contribute and make an impact.”

Kelly also mentioned [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] as a returning player who could break out, while he’s optimistic about the transfer additions of [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag], a 1,000-yard receiver at Liberty last season, and [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag], who also served as a return specialist at Mississippi State.

“I think that’s what I like about our receiving corps more than anything else, is the depth,” Kelly said. “I think we’ve got speed on the perimeter. Chris Hilton showed that in our bowl game against Wisconsin, his ability to track the ball down the field. I think we’ve got the ability to play inside out at the slot receiver position. I think we’ve got great depth there.

“We brought in CJ Daniels, I think he will help us. Zavion [Thomas] will help us, transfer from Mississippi State. I think we brought in the right mix of players to give us the depth necessary inside and out to make up for that lost production.”

The Tigers are optimistic about Nussmeier’s potential given his talent and the flashes of strong processing that he has shown when he’s seen game action. But that won’t matter if he doesn’t have playmakers in the passing game, which Kelly seems to be confident he does.

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Is LSU wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr. flying under the radar?

Is LSU wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr. a breakout candidate in 2024?

LSU’s wide receiver room will look different in 2024. The gap left by [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] is a big one, which has led to many calling for a breakout year from receivers like [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag].

As far as breakout candidates go, Lacy and Daniels make sense. Lacy, a fifth-year senior, will enter his third year at LSU. He knows the offense, knows quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], and his 18.6 yards per catch in 2023 lead all qualified SEC returners.

Daniels was one of the top receivers on the transfer market after racking up 1,000 yards and leading the country in yards per route run at Liberty.

It’s understandable why those two are getting most of the preseason hype, but does that leave some other receivers flying under the radar? That could be the case with [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag], who’s finally getting his chance in 2024.

Hilton arrived as a member of that 2021 recruiting class that was loaded at receiver. Along with Nabers and Thomas, that class included blue-chips [autotag]Jack Bech[/autotag] and [autotag]Deion Smith[/autotag]. Three years later, Hilton is the last one standing at LSU.

He was a highly touted recruit and 247Sports ranked Hilton as the top receiver in the class. He didn’t make much noise as a freshman, catching just two passes for 81 yards in a touchdown.

That touchdown came in garbage time against Kansas State in the bowl game, but Hilton put his speed on display.

In 2022, Hilton was set to be a part of the rotation. He was targeted eight times in Week 2 before getting the start against Mississippi State in Week 3. But in Week 4 against New Mexico, he tore his ACL and his year was done.

In 2023, we know what the deal was. Nabers and Thomas were a historic duo, swallowing up the majority of the targets. Throw in Lacy with tight end [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag], as well as the rushing ability of [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], and there wasn’t much offensive production left for players like Hilton.

That chance is there now. Hilton is projected to start for LSU and if the bowl game was any indication, he has a decent rapport with Nussmeier.

Nussmeier had some praise for Hilton after that performance.

According to PFF, Hilton’s top two graded games in 2023 were his final two. That strong finish could be indicative of more to come in 2024.

With Daniels gone, LSU needs to find a way to drum up big plays. Having a receiver with Hilton’s size on the outside that can fly is one way to do that.

Nearly 40% of Hilton’s targets in 2023 were deep balls. He’ll be tasked with becoming a more complete pass catcher this fall, but that go-ball ability will be critical to LSU’s offense.

Lacy is the favorite to be LSU’s No. 1 target, but Hilton should be in the conversation too. Hilton’s yards per route run was just ahead of Lacy in 2023 and it wouldn’t be a shock if Hilton put it all together to have an all-conference campaign.

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LSU’s Kylan Billiot named a freshman SEC receiver to watch

It may be tough to break through in LSU’s receiver room, but true freshman Kylan Billiot has the chance to do so.

Even with [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] moving on, it’s hard not to like what LSU has at receiver.

It returned budding stars like [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] while adding transfer [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag]. It will also hope for some development from second-year players [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag].

However, true freshman receiver [autotag]Kylan Billiot[/autotag] could also make an impact. The four-star prospect from Terrebonne was 247Sports’ No. 13 receiver in the 2024 cycle, and he was listed among potential impact freshman wideouts in the SEC this fall.

It may be tough for Billiot to see the field given all the aforementioned talent at the position, but as the top-rated receiver in LSU’s signing class, he’s the team’s best candidate for a true freshman breakout star.

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