LSU’s wide receiver room heading into the 2023 will be loaded as they will be led by Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Kyren Lacy. The Tigers will have to fill the shoes of Kayshon Boutte and Jaray Jenkins who put their name in the 2023 NFL Draft class. LSU also lost Jack Bech to the transfer portal heading into the offseason, but there are guys that are ready to step in his place. Here is how the wide receiver room for the Tigers will shape out for the 2023 college football season.
Malik Nabers:
Nabers has been an electric playmaker when he steps on the field and has stepped on the scene in Baton Rouge during his first two years with the program. He was able to quickly make the transition from high school to college during his freshman season in 2021 as he earned Freshman All-SEC honors.
Nabers would finish his freshman year with 28 receptions for 417 yards and four touchdowns. The Youngsville, Louisiana native would be able to continue his momentum from the 2021 season as he had a breakout year in 2022. Nabers registered 72 receptions for 1,017 yards and three touchdowns. He would have three games during the season where he would eclipse the century mark.
The star wide receiver had 129 yards against UAB, 128 against Georgia and 163 against Purdue. In the Citrus Bowl against the Boilermakers, Nabers was named offensive MVP after he was able to haul in nine receptions for 163 yards and a touchdown. He also would find the endzone through the air as he found Jayden Daniels in the back corner for a five-yard touchdown as LSU would control the game from start to finish.
Brian Thomas Jr.:
Thomas Jr. has been able to become a big play threat for the Tigers offense and has been heavily involved in the LSU’s wide receiver rotation during his two years at LSU. During his freshman season in 2021, Thomas Jr. hauled in 28 passes for 359 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown of his collegiate career would come against Alabama.
His role would increase heading into his sophomore season in 2022 as he hauled in 31 receptions for 361 yards and five touchdowns. His best game would come against New Mexico in week three where he registered two catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. Thomas Jr. has been able to show flashes with the LSU offense during his first two seasons with the purple and gold.
He will have the opportunity to step into a vital role in 2023 as he will be the WR2 on the depth chart heading into the spring. Thomas Jr.’s size allows him to catch contested balls and he has come up in big spots throughout his collegiate career.
Aaron Anderson:
Anderson will be a newcomer to the Tigers as he transferred from Alabama heading into the offseason. He was regarded as one of the top receivers for the Class of 2022 coming out of Edna Karr High School. The New Orleans native would spent one season with the Crimson Tide, but didn’t see much action on the field leading him to redshirt during his freshman year.
Anderson would appear in only one game during the year, but injuries slowed him for the majority of the season limiting his production on the field. He would see action in week 11 against Austin Peay. He will be looking to stay healthy and provide a spark on an LSU offense that has a high ceiling heading into the new season.
Kyren Lacy:
Lacy spent his first two seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette before transferring to LSU prior to the start of the 2022 season. The Thibodaux, Louisiana native would lead the Cajuns in receiving with 28 receptions for 364 yards and four touchdowns. Heading into his sophomore year with Louisiana-Lafayette, Lacy would continue to be one of the leaders in the wide receiver room as he led the team with six touchdown receptions.
He would tack on 22 receptions for 304 yards during the 2021 season. Lacy decided to transfer to LSU and he was able to earn playing time in what was a deep wide receiver room for the Tigers. During the 2022 season, Lacy hauled in 24 receptions for 268 yards in his junior campaign. His best game would come against Purdue in the Citrus Bowl where he registered two receptions for 57 yards.
Chris Hilton Jr.:
Hilton Jr. was a two-sport athlete in high school where he competed in football and track and field. He was listed as the No. 4 overall prospect in the state of Louisiana and would be one of the most talented all-around athletes on the roster. The Zachary, Louisiana native has the ability that is a great route runner that can use his speed when he gets to the second level of the defense.
Hilton Jr. make his collegiate debut against UCLA during the 2021 season, but his was slowed down due to an injury. He would only start in one game and saw action in four during his freshman year. In the 2022 season, Hilton Jr. hauled in seven receptions for 109 yards. He would see action in two games during the season against New Mexico and Southern. Against New Mexico he recorded two receptions for 62 yards and against Southern he would tack on five receptions for 47 yards.
Jalen Brown:
Brown would be regarded as one of the nation’s top prospects in the Class of 2023 and ranked as the No. 11 overall prospect. During the 2022 season, Brown caught 22 passes for 401 yards and three touchdowns. In his prep career, he would haul in 111 passes, 2,396 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Kyle Parker:
Parker is a highly-touted prospect coming out of Lovejoy High School. He was listed as a four-star recruit and was regarded as one of the top players in the state of Texas. During his senior season in 2022, Parker caught 72 passes for 1,091 yards and 13 touchdowns. He would also be involved in punts and kickoffs.
Shelton Sampson Jr.:
Sampson Jr. was a standout wide receiver at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge. He would finish his prep career as one of the most accomplished wide receivers to come through the program. Sampson Jr. would be listed as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 23 overall prospect in the Class of 2023. The Baton Rouge native in the 2022 season hauled in 79 passes for 1,152 yards and 18 touchdowns.
