Kayshon Boutte falls short of expectations at NFL Combine
LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte’s NFL Combine results are in.
Boutte clocked a 4.50 and 4.67 unofficial 40-yard dash times, which was far from the 4.3 mark he said he wanted to hit during combine interviews on Friday.
Boutte also recorded a 29″ vertical jump and 108″ broad jump. The vertical jump was the lowest among the wide receivers in the first of two groups on Saturday, while the broad jump was the second-lowest mark by a receiver in the group.
Boutte measured in at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds with 31 3/8″ arms and 9 1/2″ hands.
The testing portions of the combine is likely another hit to Boutte’s draft stock, which had already slipped over the past year.
Boutte was once projected as a potential first-round pick, but has recently slid out of the first two rounds in most mock drafts.
Boutte began his career at LSU in 2020 as the No. 4 wide receiver and No. 29 overall player in the class according to On3 Industry Rankings. He made an immediate impact his freshman season, catching 45 passes for 735 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
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Boutte got off to a fast start to his second collegiate season, hauling in 38 catches for 509 receiving yards and nine touchdowns across the first six games of the season. Boutte then suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for the final seven games.
After entering the season still working towards full health, Boutte finished the 2022 season with 48 catches for 538 yards and just two touchdowns. The Tigers won the SEC West, but Boutte took a backseat to sophomore wide receiver Malik Nabers, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark on the season.
Many analysts feel Boutte’s ankle injury, which required a second procedure in the spring of 2022, has led to a decline in his production.
The NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein weighed in with his thoughts on Boutte ahead of the NFL Combine.
“Boutte’s size, speed and flashes over his first two seasons could be enough to override a very uneven 2022,” he said. “He has inside/outside value and can be just as adept at uncovering underneath as he can at stretching the field. He ran simple routes at LSU but has the athletic ability to expand on that with more attention to detail. The ball skills are a little disappointing, with too many drops showing up on tape. He’s talented with the ball in his hands and has playmaking potential if he reverts to his previous form. Boutte could work his way into an eventual WR2/3 role barring any further issues with his right ankle.”
