LSU football: 10 best players of the Les Miles Era

Sep 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (82) catches a pass during the first half against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Dwayne Bowe

Dwayne Bowe was one of the first of several wide receivers to thrive at LSU under the tutelage of Les Miles.

At 6-foot-3, 217 pounds, he become one of the premier red zone threats in college football while in Baton Rouge. Bowe became a full-time starter during his sophomore season. By the time he was selected in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, he had compiled 26 touchdown receptions; the most in school history.

Bowe was a freshman on Nick Saban’s 2003 national championship team. His greatest contributions as a Tiger, though, would come under Miles during the 2005 and 2006 seasons as the primary receiving target for future No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell.

Perhaps the most memorable moment of his collegiate career came during his junior year against the No. 4-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.

After dropping a late touchdown catch that could have given his team the victory, Bowe was looking to redeem himself as he lined up for the potential game-winning play in overtime.

"“I told JaMarcus, ‘Just find me, because if they double me I’m going to keep coming across, so just hit me in the hole’,” Bowe told NOLA.com. “I looked at him, and he looked at me and gave me a head fake. Once I ran my route I saw that the safety was still on me, and (JaMarcus) went to roll out. I just rolled my route and came back.”"

Russell rolled out of the pocket and delivered a strike through the heart of the defense, right into the hands of his star receiver.

"“I caught it on my back shoulder, and his (the defender’s) hand was on it,” Bowe said. “I just pulled it in.”"

The win would mark Miles’ first major upset as the head coach of the Tigers, with the game-winning catch living on as one of the most thrilling plays in recent LSU history.

(Bowe’s catch at the 6:50 mark)

Next: Morris Claiborne