Why Ja’Marr Chase opting out is a good thing for LSU football

LSU football will be without their best wide receiver in 2020.

LSU football wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase announced late last month that he’s opting out of the 2020 season.

Chase, who caught 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns last season, was expected to be the best wide receiver in college football in 2020.

Instead, Chase will start his preparation for the 2021 NFL Draft, where he’ll likely be the first wide receiver selected.

I think Chase made the right call to opt out of the 2020 season, for reasons I outlined here. But make no mistake, I hate that we don’t get to see one more season of Chase in Baton Rouge. He’s a joy to watch and I was really looking forward to seeing how the Louisana native gelled with new starting quarterback Myles Brennan.

However, while I’m sure Ed Orgeron and his staff would prefer to have Chase on the field this season, I actually think it’s a good thing for the Tigers that the dynamic wide receiver opted out of the 2020 season.

Why LSU football will be better in the future because of Chase’s opt out

I’m not down on LSU like a lot of national analysts, but I also don’t think the Tigers should be considered the favorites to win the national championship in 2020.

Before Chase’s opt out (and Tyler Shelvin’s opt out), I felt like LSU might have an outside shot at reaching the College Football Playoff.

But now, I don’t foresee that happening.

LSU should still be a seven-win or eight-win team, but that is probably their ceiling.

In other words, it’s all about 2021 (I’m rolling with LSU to win it all in 2021).

Not having Chase in 2020 means there will be a huge opportunity for some of the Tigers’ young wide receivers to step up. Guys like 2020 five-star signee Kayshon Boutte (who Coach O recently said will be starting for LSU this season) and four-star signee Koy Moore. There will also be more chances this season for five-star tight end Arik Gilbert.

Trey Palmer, a 2019 four-star signee, is another young wide receiver who will see more action in the absence of Chase.

The experience those young receivers gain in 2020 because Chase isn’t playing will make LSU a better team in 2021. There will be more trust/chemistry between Brennan and his receivers, which makes a championship run in 2021 even more likely.

Everyone wishes they could see Ja’Marr Chase play this season. But it’s not happening.I’m all about silver linings and it’s clear there’s one with Chase’s decision to not play.