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DALLAS — LSU’s Brian Kelly knows it will take more than one player to replace a pair of 1,000-yard wide receivers.
Malik Nabers was a consensus All-American and Biletnikoff Award finalist in 2023, after he pulled down 89 receptions for 1,569 yards, scored 14 receiving touchdowns, and averaged 120.7 yards per game for the Tigers.
The former Comeaux High star, who was selected No. 6 overall in April’s NFL Draft, left LSU as the program’s all-time leader in receptions (189) and receiving yards (3,003) and accomplished the feat in three seasons.
Brian Thomas Jr., who was selected No. 23 overall in April’s NFL Draft, earned Associated Press Third-Team All-American honors last season as recorded 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns. He averaged 17.3 yards per catch.
It will require more than one or two players to replace that level of top-end production.
“I don’t think you look towards one player,” said Kelly at SEC Media Days inside the Omni Hotel on Monday. “I think when we look at our football team in its totality, there will be a number of players that we’ll count on. Kyren Lacey, he will certainly be a player that we lean on. But I think at the wide receiver position, there is probably six to eight players that will get the opportunity to contribute and make an impact.”
The 6-foot-2, 213-pound Lacy is coming off a season in which he appeared in 13 games for the Tigers, including 10 starts. Lacy was fourth in the team in receptions (30), and third in receiving yards (558) and touchdown receptions (7).
The team also returns Chris Hilton Jr. (13 receptions for 225 yards) and Aaron Anderson (12 receptions for 59 yards) who saw limited playing time in 2023, while adding transfers CJ Daniels (Liberty) and Zavion Thomas (Mississippi State).
Having so many options at wide receiver is something Kelly appreciates about his team.
“I think that’s what I like about our receiving corps more than anything else, is the depth,” Kelly said. “I think we’ve got speed on the perimeter. Chris Hilton showed that in our bowl game against Wisconsin, his ability to track the ball down the field.”
Kelly added, “I think we’ve got the ability to play inside out at the slot receiver position I think we’ve got great depth there. We brought in CJ Daniels. I think he will help us. Zion will help us, transfer from Mississippi State. I think we brought in the right mix of players to give us the depth necessary inside and out to make up for that lost production.”
Kelly and his staff must also replace the production of Jayden Daniels, who won the Heisman last year after he threw for 3,812 yards, and completed 72.2 percent of his passes, with 40 touchdowns to only four interceptions. He also rushed for 1,134 yards and scored 10 rushing touchdowns.
The keys to the Tigers’ offense are being passed down to Garrett Nussmeier, the 6-foot-2, 198-pound redshirt junior with a big arm. Nussmeier saw limited action in six regular season games last season but put on a show in a 35-31 win over Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The LSU signal caller completed 31-of-45 passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns to earn MVP honors.
Kelly stated on Monday that the two quarterbacks share some similarities.
“There is certainly common traits,” Kelly said. “I think the first one certainly, if we’re talking outside of the skill factor, right, the ability to throw the football. If you talk about just from the neck up, the ability to certainly translate. In other words, take the offense, take the things that are taught in the classroom, and be able to translate those things to the field.”
Kelly further added, “That was one of Jayden Daniel’s best assets. You could watch it, talk about it, he could recite it. You could be in a meeting and you would walk out of that meeting and go, amazing. His recall, his ability to go through all the progressions, his ability to know everything in terms of blitz protection, and then in a game he could do it.”
That gift, that ability is what makes the great quarterbacks great, and Garrett has been able to do that as well. Now, he has to go do it in the games like Jayden did. But that’s the first thing we look for, the ability to take it from the meetings, film study, walk-throughs, practice, and apply it to the games real time. I believe Garrett will be able to do that as well.”
ESPN Southwest Louisiana’s SEC Media Days coverage is presented by Beal & Hebert — Acadiana’s Hometown Lawyers.