LSU Football: Where do the Tigers stand in the WRU rankings?

The LSU Football program has been one of the nation’s top producers of NFL talent for the last decade plus. The Tigers have one of the most extensive lists of colleges with talent in the pros, and they haven’t shown signs of slowing down anytime soon. Brian Kelly is now taking over a team with a plethora of budding young stars, which will only add to the growing list of players in the NFL. Perhaps the most talented of the bunch is wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.

Boutte is the next big skill player in line, waiting to get his opportunity on football’s biggest stage. The Tigers have seen some of the best receivers of the current century come through their program, which leads many to believe that they are the true WRU. It was revealed earlier in the week that a recent ESPN article determined LSU was not DBU. It finished second on the list behind Ohio State, rather controversially. However, can the Tigers ascend to the wide receiver throne or will they be snubbed again in favor of another school?

LSU Football is second in line to the WRU monicker, according to ESPN

Similar to the 2022 DBU category, LSU falls just short of the top spot. USC edges out the Tigers for the gold medal and the title of WRU, aided by a massive 2021 class. The Trojans can claim Amon-Ra St. Brown and Michael Pittman, both of whom enjoyed breakout seasons in the NFL last year. Drake London—who was drafted No. 8 overall by the Atlanta Falcons—boosts USC’s recent resume, as well. Meanwhile, LSU didn’t have a receiver taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, although Jontre Kirklin did end up on the Arizona Cardinals roster as an undrafted free agent.

The Tigers’ last massive class came in 2021 when Ja’Marr Chase, Terrace Marshall Jr. and Racey McMath turned pro. The former posted one of the most impressive rookie seasons by a receiver in NFL history. He joined Justin Jefferson as the next great pair of former LSU teammates to tear up the NFL, snatching the throne from Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.

Boutte’s imminent ascendence into the NFL will make the race a whole lot more interesting. While the Tigers may not be able to necessarily claim the title of WRU right now, they don’t look to be far off. Boutte isn’t the only promising young wide out to have his eyes on the NFL either. Jalen Brown and Shelton Sampson Jr.—two of the top seven wide receiver prospects in the country—are coming to campus in 2023. They will look to cement their places in Kelly’s team and start their journey to become the next talented wide receiver duo to come out of Baton Rouge.

It’s hard to argue with the long-term success that these two schools, in addition to Alabama, have had when producing talent at skill positions. In terms of developing NFL-ready players, there are few schools better than the top three on the WRU list. However, it must be said that LSU can go toe-to-toe with just about any college in the nation. As it relates to positions, it’s hard to put together a roster of more successful players than the Bayou Bengals receivers in the NFL.

Putting LSU at No. 2 seems a bit harsh, they at least deserve 1b. shouts. Boutte’s 2022 Biletnikoff Award win should tip the scales in the Tigers’ favor though.