Brian Kelly shares insight into sideline blowups with Chris Hilton Jr., Kyren Lacy

Tempers were flaring on the LSU sideline during Saturday’s loss to Florida. Tigers head coach Brian Kelly was seen yelling at Chris Hilton Jr. during the first half of the game.

Later on, LSU receiver Kyren Lacy came off the field and lit into Brian Kelly after Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was sacked on a third down.

Kelly appeared on The Paul Finebaum Show on Monday and was asked about the Florida game, including the two incidents on the sideline.

“Yea, you know, I find it kind of interesting that I am the only coach in the country that has conversations with their players on the sideline, but be that as it may, we were having a coaching moment with one of my wide receivers, you know, who is desperately wanting to make big plays for us,” Brian Kelly said of Chris Hilton.

Hilton has only two receptions on the season and did not catch a pass against Florida. The former four-star recruit was ranked as the No. 13 receiver in the country in the class of 2021, per the On3 Industry rankings.

“That’s all he thinks about. And he’s pressing a little bit,” Kelly said. “So, you know, having a conversation with him on the sideline to help him through that. But you’ve gotta understand, this is the emotion of the game that is happening at the same time.”

As for Kyren Lacy, he leads LSU with 49 receptions for 740 yards and seven touchdowns. However, he tied a season low with three catches for 43 yards against the Gators.

“Then we had another player that wanted the football. And I love that about our players. Any competitor wants the football,” Brian Kelly said. “But again, you have to be able to measure it by making sure that the emotion doesn’t take over for what you’re trying to accomplish at the time.

“And unfortunately sometimes the camera’s in our office where we’re working, and that comes with being the head coach at a high profile institution like LSU.”

Overall, Kelly tried to downplay the incidents and chalked them up to competitors being frustrated during a game that wasn’t going LSU’s way.

“You have to measure it by what’s happening during the game, and both of those kids wanted nothing but the best. They were emotional at the time but they’re two great kids,” Kelly said.