LSU Football: Why there’s no better place for a WR than Baton Rouge
By Zach Ragan
LSU football has turned into “wide receiver U” over the last several years.
LSU football is the best program in the country for wide receivers at the moment.
That’s a subjective statement, but it’s backed up by stats…..and the thoughts of top recruits.
I know there are fans of other programs that will disagree (USC and Clemson most likely), but Baton Rouge is currently the best place in the world for wide receivers to spend a few years before heading to the NFL.
The Tigers have churned out superstar wide receivers in recent years like Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr.
Justin Jefferson, a likely first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, will soon be joining those names in the NFL. And next year, Ja’Marr Chase will probably be the first wide receiver selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
If you’re a top wide receiver recruit, why in the world would you not want to go to LSU?
The Tigers are committed to throwing the ball, as evidenced by Joe Burrow’s 5,671 passing yards in 2019. LSU had two receivers (Jefferson and Chase) with over 1,500 receiving yards last season.
(By comparison, Clemson’s leading wide receiver in 2019, Tee Higgins, had 1,167 receiving yards. Higgins was the only Clemson player with over 1,000 receiving yards.)
Tight end Thaddeus Moss set a school record with 47 receptions for 570 yards (for a tight end).
Wide receiver Terrace Marshall, who was arguably the fifth option in the passing game (behind Chase, Jefferson, Moss and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire), finished the season with 46 receptions for 671 yards.
Marshall would’ve been Missouri’s leading receiver in 2019 by over 200 yards.
Recruits are very aware of the Tigers’ prowess in the passing game. 2021 four-star wide receiver Malik Nabers recently told 247Sports that LSU’s offense is one that “everyone dreams to be in”. Nabers, the No. 10 overall player in the state of Louisiana, added “they pass the ball a lot, everyone’s seen that so it’d be fun to be in that offense”.
The Tigers already have a commitment from 2021 four-star wide receiver Deion Smith. LSU is heavily pursuing other top wide receivers such as five-star Jacorey Brooks, four-star Sage Ryan and four-star Agiye Hall.
LSU is showing no signs of slowing down when it comes to landing elite wide receivers, which is going to create a nightmare scenario for defensive coordinators in the SEC.
5 non-conference games we'd love to see LSU play. dark. Next
If the Tigers’ offense continues to operate as the same high level as it did in 2019, we might see some defensive coordinators look to other conferences for work.