LSU football in driver’s seat for elite in-state WR
By Zach Ragan
LSU football is hoping to land an elite in-state 2021 wide receiver.
LSU football is one of several programs pursuing 2021 four-star wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
Thomas, 6-foot-4/185 lbs from Walker, LA (Walker), is rated in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 3 player in the state of Louisiana and the No. 9 wide receiver in the nation. He’s also rated as the No. 63 overall 2021 recruit in the nation.
The battle for Thomas is viewed by recruiting analysts as Alabama vs LSU, though Georgia and Texas A&M are also in the mix.
For now, it appears that LSU is the team to beat — at least according to Rivals national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman.
“The Tigers have surged ahead in recent months amid the Covid-19 pandemic and could be in line to add a commitment before the start of football season,” wrote Spiegelman this week.
Spiegelman previously was leaning toward Thomas landing at Alabama.
The Louisiana native told Rivals earlier this month that he’s not sure yet if he’ll commit before his senior season.
Why Thomas is a must-get player for LSU football
The fact that Thomas is a four-star wide receiver who lives just 30 minutes from Baton Rouge makes him a must-get player for LSU.
But that’s not the only reason the Tigers need to secure a commitment from him. LSU mostly needs to land Thomas because he has the potential to be a dominant wide receiver in the SEC.
Thomas, who is also an accomplished basketball player, has elite size and speed (he told Rivals that he was laser timed running a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash).
247Sports national writer Charles Power describes Thomas as a player who “runs well with the ability to separate within the route with quickness and change of direction”. Power also notes that Thomas is “dangerous after the catch and in the quick game in addition to his possession skills”.
The NFL comparison for Thomas, according to Power, is New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (a player who just set the record for most receptions in a season in the NFL).
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It’s hard to see LSU missing on Thomas. If they’re able to close the deal, he could be an ideal replacement for Ja’Marr Chase, who will inevitably be on his way to the NFL after the 2020 season.