Brian Kelly provides his reaction to Kayshon Boutte's surprise decision to turn pro

There’s no hard feelings between Brian Kelly and star LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte after the latter declared for the 2023 NFL Draft following originally stating his intention to return to the Tigers next season.

Boutte may have shocked the masses originally by announcing he’d return, but he sent the college football world into a tizzy when he changed his mind. Still, Kelly stated that he’s “100%” supporting Boutte in his choice.

“I think he’s been going back and forth all year,” revealed Kelly, per Scott Rabalais of The Advocate. “You want to give your guys the best counsel and I think for him he needed to get all that information, and once he did he made the best decision for him.

“We support him 100%. He’s ready. He’ll have a great career.”

It would’ve been a nice turn of events for LSU to retain Boutte for the Citrus Bowl against Purdue and next season, but he’s likely to be a first round pick at the NFL level, and nobody can blame him for wanting to move on to the next level.

Alas, Kayshon Boutte was a phenomenal talent for LSU, and Brian Kelly will appreciate the one year they spent together, but he’s now moving on to what he hopes is bigger and better things for himself.

More on Kayshon Boutte, LSU Tigers

Kayshon Boutte began his career at LSU in 2020 as the No. 4 wide receiver and No. 29 overall player in the class, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He made an immediate impact his freshman season, catching 45 passes for 735 receiving yards and five touchdowns during his first season with the Tigers.

Through turmoil and turnover for LSU, Boutte still shined bright, amassing 38 catches for 509 receiving yards and nine touchdowns his sophomore season. He rose to become one of the most feared pass catchers in the nation, and someone the defense would be forced to spotlight throughout a game.

That set high expectations for Boutte entering his junior season at LSU in 2022, as he was considered one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. He did not disappoint, recording 48 catches for 538 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers won the SEC West in Brian Kelly’s first season at the helm.

On3’s Justin Rudolph contributed to this report.