Kayshon Boutte emerges as LSU leader, freshmen skill players shining

After a freshman season that exceeded nearly everyone’s expectations, LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has emerged as a leader according to head coach Ed Orgeron.

“I see leadership from Kayshon,” Oregeron told media on Wednesday. “I see a very good connection with Max (Johnson) and Garrett (Nussmeier). I think that him and Jontre (Kirklin) and Jaray (Jenkins) are leading this team. Not only the wide receivers, the team.”

As LSU looks to bounce back from a disappointing 5-5 season in 2020, Oregon said in order to get back to their championship form from two seasons ago, star players like Kayshon Boutte have to be leaders.

“I told the team the other day, it’s very important in order for us to be a championship team that our best players practice the best,” Orgeron said. “And there’s no question I can tell you Kayshon is practicing the best and he’s being a leader out there. He’s into it, he comes and talks to me about a lot of things. He’s coaching the young guys.”

As a freshman, Kayshon Boutte had 735 receiving yards on just 45 receptions. He emerged late in the season as the go-to receiver after Terrace Marshall opted out of the season. His breakout performance came in the final game of the season against Ole Miss. In the Tigers’ win, Boutte had 14 receptions for 308 yards, good for the SEC record for receiving yards in a game.

Heading into 2021, Boutte, the aforementioned Jaray Jenkins and Jontre Kirklin will lead the Tigers receiving corp. Second-year receiver Roy Moore and third-year receiver Trey Palmer will also be heavily featured.

Under new offensive coordinator Jake Peetz, the LSU offense will look to show a semblance of the 2019 Tiger offense that rewrote history books.

The offense took a slight hit in camp following the injury to quarterback Myles Brennan, who could miss over half the season. The Tigers will turn to Max Johnson, who was engaged in a quarterback battle with Brennan prior to the injury, in the meantime.

Freshmen coming along

A key to getting back to 2019 form will be the talented freshmen from the 2021 recruiting class.

“All those young guys are coming along,” Orgeron said. “Every one of them has their day. This is one of the best group of skill freshmen that we’ve had here and I think all of them are going to get a chance to prove themselves.”

The Tigers had a top five recruiting class in the 2021 recruiting cycle. Offensively, the Tigers reloaded at wide receivers. LSU landed four star wide receivers Deion Smith, Christ Hilton, Brian Thomas Jr, Malik Nabers and Jack Bech. Bech has emerged as a versatile player and will play tight end in 2021. While Thomas has earned praise from Orgeron and quarterback Max Johnson.

At running back, the Tigers landed four-star Armoni Goodwin from the state of Alabama and Ohio four-star Corey Kiner.

LSU is loaded once again at the offensive skill position and behind Kayshon Boutte’s leadership, the Tigers are back on track in 2021.