Brian Kelly gives assessment of LSU receiver room, how it's developing

LSU‘s rebuild under new head coach Brian Kelly is a work in progress – and Kelly will be the first to say that. Since being hired as the Tigers’ leader and making the move to Baton Rouge, Kelly has been putting the puzzle together as his program looks to get back on track in 2022.

As the Tigers have spent the past month-and-a-half going through spring practices ahead of their annual spring game on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Stadium, each position group has been working hard – especially LSU’s wide receivers, which includes players such as Kayshon Boutte, Jaray Jenkins and Malik Nabers.

Meeting with reporters following a spring practice last Saturday, Kelly gave his assessment of LSU’s wide receiver room and how it’s been developing at this point of the spring period.

“I think I would look at it differently,” Kelly said. “I think we’re building some grit in this group. I think there’s talent. We’re looking for guys that can sustain a consistent level of play for four quarters. We’re having long practices, and then we’re not getting into team play and throwing it to them in competitive situations ’till late so they’re fatigued. We want to see them fight through those and make catches late.

“They look really good in period one, two and three – in those tempo periods. … I want to see them late. So we’re developing a mental toughness with that group. So, if you were to ask me where’s the group, I think it’s talented. I think they’re going to be a group that we can count on, but there are things in this total preparation that I keep talking about that we’re going to have to focus on.”

LSU will continue to go through spring practices this week ahead of Saturday’s spring game, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.