Cortez Hankton Jr. reveals what makes LSU's Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. first round talents

LSU wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton Jr. recognizes he coached a special duo in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. last season with the Tigers.

Joining Friday’s episode of Andy Staples On3 on YouTube, Hankton Jr. elaborated on what makes the duo so potent on the field, and why they’re going to be just as good at the next level, following the 2024 NFL Draft.

“It’s been a blessing to coach two of the most talented receivers in the nation,” Hankton stated. “They were a joy to coach, they were joy to watch on the sideline making plays. And I’m excited and happy for both though.”

Continuing, Hankton Jr. told some stories about both men, and why they’ve been nothing but successful on the football field.

“Well, I had a little history with both of them because I recruited them coming out of high school, and so I was familiar with their skill set,” Hankton Jr. added. “Malik was always ultra competitive. He was the guy that played a game with a chip on his shoulder. You know, there’s this way about him that he can willed himself to make a play.

“Brian Thomas is probably the most gifted athlete that ever coached and also has high football intelligence. And so when you are blessed to coach those guys, they make your job a lot easier.”

While Nabers is known throughout the country, Thomas Jr. is an up and coming prospect, and Staples wanted to find out what makes him such an interesting pick.

“So you mentioned Brian Thomas and you know, Malik has been getting a lot of the headlines, obviously, because there is that competition for wide receiver No. 1 in this draft, but Brian is probably a first round pick,” Staples added. “He’s invited to the green room, one of only 13 People in the greenroom. We say he’s the, maybe the best athlete you’ve ever coached. What was the first kind of wow moment for you? Either at practice or in a game?”

Evidently, Hankton Jr. has known since high school that Thomas Jr. was going to be a special player, due to his effortless athleticism.

“Well, I’ll go back to when he was in high school. I had the opportunity to go watch and play a basketball game. I was so impressed by how somebody that big can move the way that he can move,” Hankton Jr. said. “Real fluid. Just a smooth athlete, and everything that he does, he just makes it look effortless. You know, I mean, and I think that’s why people were wowed by his speed, because it looks like it doesn’t take him much effort to run fast, but that’s just who he is.”

Alas, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. won’t have to wait long to hear their names at the 2024 NFL Draft. We’ll see where they end up, but Cortez Hankton Jr. will be rooting for them.