LSU Football: Tigers WR Ja’Marr Chase’s greatest strength

LSU football wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is one of the best college football players in the nation.

LSU football wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase might be the most dynamic player in college football heading into the 2020 season.

Chase made plenty of downfield catches in 2019, while he was on his way to catching 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns.

One of his more memorable catches last season was his 33-yard touchdown reception against Alabama’s Trevon Diggs.

While there’s no denying Chase’s downfield abilities, that’s not the most impressive part of his game.

It’s Chase’s ability after the catch that truly makes him one of the elite wide receivers in football (not just college football).

According to a report from The Athletic, Chase led all FBS wide receivers in yards after contact in 2019 with 411.

Why LSU football’s Ja’Marr Chase is so good after the catch

There’s a specific reason why Chase is so good after the catch.

Jimmy Chase, Ja’Marr’s father, recently pointed out to The Athletic that his son played running back for most of his life, which helped his patience and “seeing all the angles”.

It makes sense. Chase certainly looks like a running back in the middle of the field once he has the ball in his hands.

The ability to be dangerous after the catch is what can take a wide receiver’s game to the next level.

Especially in the NFL.

Once a player gets to the SEC, and eventually the NFL, everyone is fast. Speed is necessary, but it doesn’t separate players as it does in high school.

Running good routes and making plays after the catch, however, can make a fast wide receiver extremely dangerous.

We’ve seen plenty of athletically gifted wide receivers fail in the SEC and the NFL because they were one-trick ponies.

Chase, though, has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.

And he’s working hard to get even better.