LSU football: 10 best players of the Les Miles Era

Dec 30, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Music City Bowl at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The LSU football team has seen an influx of talent during Les Miles’ tenure with the Tigers. Here are the top 10 players he has coached in Baton Rouge:

Les Miles is criticized for many things.

Of course there are the quarterback struggles, which aside Zach Mettenberger’s senior season, have been way too prevalent in the past seven seasons.

Clock management has been an issue as well (I still cringe every time I think about Jordan Jefferson spiking the football with time expiring against Ole Miss).

And no LSU football fan can forget about the hex that has been put on him in recent years by the once-beloved, now-hated Nick Saban.

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One thing you cannot criticize the Mad Hatter for, however, is his ability to develop talent at an extraordinary rate.

It is a large reason why he has won more games than any other head coach in college football since arriving in Baton Rouge. It is also a major factor in why he has been able to assemble two SEC champions and a BCS National Championship team during his decade at the helm of the program.

Perhaps the biggest reflection of his player development abilities, though, is the nature in which he has essentially turned LSU football into an NFL factory since taking over.

Miles has been nothing short of magnificent when it comes to sending LSU Tigers to the pros. The Bayou Bengals have produced 64 draft picks under his tenure, and that does not even include the players who have landed on rosters as undrafted free agents.

Here are a few other impressive statistics on LSU draftees from the past decade, per NOLA.com’s Ron Higgins:

"37 were on NFL rosters last season 45 have started at least one game 22 finished last season as starters 7 have been Pro Bowlers 4 have been selected All-Pro 10 have played in Super Bowls 8 have won in Super Bowls"

Very few coaches can come anywhere close to these accomplishments, a true testament to just how good Les Miles has been at LSU.

So, who have been the best players he has coached with the Tigers?

Click below to find out.

*Note: This list is in no specific order

Next: Dwayne Bowe