By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
BATON ROUGE — New LSU coach Brian Kelly has pulled back the curtain in preseason, giving media – and by extension, the public – much greater insight into this year’s Tiger football team than we’ve had in many years.
Thursday, I was among the media able to watch the whole practice, mostly a scrimmage, that lasted about three hours. I came away really impressed with many position groups — standouts that included the defensive and offensive lines. I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw up front, especially on offense in contrast to the last couple seasons — but most of all I wanted to see if these young, talented wide receivers getting the hype are starting to come together as a unit.
I was blown away by the talent, and depth, LSU has at wide receiver.
We all know what junior Kayshon Boutte can do. He’s one of the best not only in the Southeastern Conference but also in the country, and is now wearing Jersey No. 7, reserved annually for the elite homegrown Tigers who are proven leaders on and off the field.
Boutte (6-0, 205) looked sharp again and appears completely healthy for the first time in over a year. I was glad I picked a practice that had the players wearing full pads and scrimmage tempo. You get the best upside viewing and translating what to project on game day, because the game is played in full pads and fill tilt on Saturdays. Boutte showed he is back in form and displayed his 4.4 speed in the 40.
I was able to see a more confident, stronger Brian Thomas. The 6-4, 201-pound sophomore from Walker was showing signs of greatness with his ability to handle the ball thrown over his right shoulder on sideline throws. He looked better than ever, like a future star about to blossom.
I saw another talented sophomore, Malik Nabors, who is 6-0, 195 with 4.5 speed or better, and can be an all-conference player in due time. A lot of people saw a glimpse of his potential in the Ole Miss and Kentucky games in 2021.
Jack Bech, and talented Chris Hilton, two more future NFL players, were sidelined with minor injuries but were dressed out.
Both of these kids are incredible leaders and both have great talent. Bech is now 6-2, 212 with 4.55 speed and as you saw in 2021, he has a competitive drive as strong as anybody else’s on the team. Hilton is bigger now, but added good weight at 6-1 and now 182 pounds. Hilton still runs a 4.4 in the 40.
We saw Hilton’s ability in the Texas Bowl game against Kansas State on the last play when he caught a long TD pass from Jontre Kirklin, who is now an NFL free agent with the Cardinals.
The player I came away most impressed with, who made another step toward being in the primary rotation, is UL Lafayette transfer Kyren Lacy. He is a grown man at 6-2, 217 with 4.5 speed. He is not someone you want to have to tackle in the open field.
This kid has a chance to be special. Lacy started for the Ragin’ Cajuns in 2021 and showed some of the ability that is evident now in the more explosive LSU offensive scheme. Lacy will be a redshirt junior and has two years left in college.
Don’t forget the understated Jaray Jenkins, the Jena product who is 6-2, 200 with 4.5 speed. Henkins has a ton of experience, lettering three years and making a bunch of big plays. What Tiger fan can soon forget the two big-time TD’s he caught in the Swamp from Max Johnson in that big 2020 upset of No. 5 Florida by LSU.
Jenkins just needs to catch the ball more consistently as a senior. He has all the tools to be an NFL player.
I am not done yet! There’s a freshman from one of Louisiana’s more tradition-rich, powerhouse programs, St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, who turned down scholarship offers aplenty to walk on for LSU. Javen Nicholas (5-9, 180) might be the fastest player on the team with 4.39 speed. I saw this kid returning punts and he showed stealth, speed and elusiveness. If he can catch the ball he just might find his way on the field as a punt returner for LSU. Running backs coach Frank Wilson, one of the top recruiters anywhere, and Kelly talked Nicholas into walking on at LSU, but he’s not a walk-on in the talent department.
Speaking of walk-ons, Evan Francioni (6-0, 201) deserves mention because he will return for his fifth year with 4.59 speed as one of LSU’s best special teams gunners.
The program has two more young receivers who have great upside in true freshman Landon Ibieta (5-11, 192) from Mandeville, who was extremely productive for the Skippers with 4.45 speed. Keep an eye on a walk-on from Catholic-Baton Rouge, Noah Nash (5-11 182), who has 4.5 speed and showed great hands and route running in the spring game. He could be a player who makes his mark in the near future, faster than a typical walk-on.
Who will be the Tigers’ starting three receivers? I think it will be hard to name just three, and you’ll play 6-8. To produce W’s in the SEC, you’ll need at least six getting it done. LSU has that covered better than any other team in the league in 2022.
Contact Lee at LeeBrecheen@aol.com
Photo by GUS STARK, LSU Athletics