LSU football report card: Midseason grades

Oct 17, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Malachi Dupre (15) catches a pass over Florida Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III (1) during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Wide Receivers: B

The emergence of Brandon Harris as a legitimate threat under center in 2015 has a lot to do with his talented receivers on the outside.

Junior Travin Dural and sophomore Malachi Dupre have both played major roles in LSU’s ability to open up its passing game. Dupre has hauled in 18 receptions for 311 yards and four touchdowns. Dural has 19 receptions on the year, compiling 294 yards and one touchdown.

Each player has further established themselves as big-play threats, especially in recent weeks. Two weeks ago against South Carolina, Dural made an incredible instinctual play to catch a tipped ball for a 62-yard touchdown reception. Last week against Florida, Dupre won a jump-ball for a clutch 50-yard touchdown reception in a narrow seven-point victory.

Two areas have held the LSU wide receiving corps back this season, however. They have struggled with dropped passes, and they have been extremely predictable.

The issues with drops appears to have been corrected during the Tigers’ last two games. But the predictability has remained persistent.

No receiver besides Dupre and Dural has recorded more than three catches this season. And while this has more to do with Harris than his receivers, it has still limited the production of the unit and brings about questions regarding what appeared to be one of LSU’s deepest position groups entering 2015.

Next: Offensive Line