COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 07: Wide receiver Malik Nabers #8 of the LSU Tigers celebrates a 49-39 win over the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on October 07, 2023 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Malik Nabers becomes 2nd LSU receiver with back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons
The LSU Tigers opened the scoring against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 10 with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to his favorite receiver, Malik Nabers. Nabers, who came into the game with 981 yards on 56 catches, surpassed 1,000 yards on the season with a big first half.
Nabers joins Josh Reed, who accomplished the feat in 2000 and 2001, as the only LSU players to have multiple seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards.
At 6-2, No. 14 LSU is desperate to keep its hopes of a spot in the SEC title game alive. Alabama is ranked eighth in the College Football Playoff rankings with a 7-1 record and the Crimson Tide are 5-0 in SEC play.
Last season, Nabers finished the year with 72 catches for 1,017 yards and three touchdowns. Against Bama, he went for 49 yards on six catches. With four grabs for 89 yards and a touchdown in the first half against Alabama, he has already racked up 1,070 and 10 touchdowns for the year on just 60 grabs.
He is much more of a deep play threat this season, averaging 17.5 yards per catch, and 22.5 in the first half against Alabama. A year ago, he averaged just 14.1. Nabers is projected to be selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft.
Reed was selected 36th overall in the 2002 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills after posting 1,127 yards and 10 touchdowns on 65 catches in 2000 and 1,740 yards and seven touchdowns on 94 catches in 2001.
LSU will need more of Nabers in the second half against Alabama. Jayden Daniels used his legs to drive the Tigers down the half right before half and then threw a touchdown to Kyren Lacy. The game is tied at 21. Daniels has thrown for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Alabama quarterback, Jalen Milroe has run for three scores.
