Brian Kelly on Kayshon Boutte: 'He can have a breakout season'

LSU‘s new head coach Brian Kelly spoke about standout receiver Kayshon Boutte‘s upcoming season, saying it could be a breakout year. The newest Tigers coach spoke in a sit-down interview about the rocky start to their relationship as coach and player — after Kelly publicly commented on Boutte’s lack of engagement with the team to start spring.

Brian Kelly on Kayshon Boutte

While speaking with Fox 8 Sports about the upcoming season, Kelly was asked about Boutte and their early offseason differences. When asked about the potential of Boutte in Kelly’s offense, Kelly responded with a very positive update on the star recruit’s future with the team.

“I think everybody knows I shot one across his bow if you will, because I think he needed to be more engaged,” admitted Kelly. “You know what? He got it. I’m excited about what he can do. He’s in the training room every day, he’s engaged. During spring he was out there helping the younger players. He’s moving around. I think he’s poised — based upon his ability to now really understand how important it is to be part of this — that he can have a breakout season. I’m excited to see him get on the field.”

Prior to the start of spring practices beginning, Kelly publicly drew attention to the fact that Boutte wasn’t present in March workouts. Despite Boutte being injured and out for spring practices, Kelly felt it was important for Boutte to be present at these workouts as a leader and member of the team.

When asked before about his decision to air out his grievance in the media instead of privately, Kelly admitted it was a decision he made based on a limited relationship with Boutte.

“I don’t normally send messages in the media to players,” Kelly said. “I usually talk to them, but I didn’t know him very well. So it was the best way for me to kind of get his attention.”

Boutte joined the Tigers as one of the biggest names in the 2020 recruiting class, ranked as a five-star prospect by the On3 Consensus Rankings — a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Boutte was the third-highest rated receiver of his class, and 28th overall in the nation.