Loaded wide receiver room brings exciting competition to spring practice

For the better part of the last decade, the wide receiver position was one of great strength for LSU. A name that almost gets lost in the mix of all the talent entering 2022 is now fifth-year senior Jaray Jenkins.

From Odell Beckham Jr. to Jarvis Landry to Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, LSU produces receivers. This year’s loaded room is headlined by arguably the best receiver in college football in Kayshon Boutte. Due to an injury though, Boutte is not practicing this spring. That shifts the focus the rest of the room and just how deep it is. Talented sophomores in Malik Nabers and Jack Bech entered the spring with the most hype, along with Chris Hilton Jr., Brian Thomas Jr. and Louisiana-Lafayette transfer Kyren Lacy. Jenkins is included in that group.

Jaray Jenkins brings leadership to LSU WR room

Jenkins is one of the most experienced players on the entire roster and has now become the veteran leader of the wide receiver group. He has largely impressed this spring as well, most notably with a 65-yard touchdown catch from Myles Brennan during the team period at last Saturday’s open practice. Brennan and Jenkins have built up a good amount of chemistry over the years. That was on display on the touchdown.

“Me and Myles’ chemistry is great,” Jenkins said. “Me going into my fifth year, his sixth, so we’ve been together ever since then. I feel like our chemistry is there. From offseason to in the season we always threw so I feel like our connection is there.”

Jenkins arrived at LSU in 2018, but did not start seeing significant playing time until the 2020 season. This was at the same time Brennan began to see consistent action before a number of injuries kept his playing time limited over the last two seasons. This past season, Jenkins was second on the team in receiving. He totaled 509 yards on 38 catches and added six touchdowns, including a game winner against Texas A&M. Coming into his fifth season now, Jenkins is embracing the role of a veteran leader and has high expectations for the young receivers.

“It’s been good,” Jaray Jenkins said talking about his new role as a leader. “We do have a lot of young guys, but they’re playing like they are vets. They’re all great from the whole room. Since whenever I was a young buck and had the older guys looking at me, what they were preaching to me its my time turn to give back to the young guys. I feel like I’ve been handling it well. In the room there’s competition everywhere so we’ve all been handling it well.”

Competition in Spring

Competition is a typical theme of spring practice and the wide receiver spot is one of the most intriguing competitions. Having six guys who are all extremely talented and have shown flashes of quality production competing in spring is a good problem to have. That doesn’t even count Boutte, who will likely be the go-to-guy once again. If healthy, he’s expected to be one of the first receivers taken in next year’s NFL Draft.

This will likely push LSU’s offense is the direction of using a “by committee” approach at wide receiver like it has the last couple of seasons. Boutte will still likely get the most targets, but it would not be surprising for all six of the other key receivers to get targets. Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock’s offense is built on getting the best playmakers in space. That is a system that plays into the strengths of many of the receivers in this stacked room. Jenkins talked about making plays after the catch was one of his areas he looked to improve going into next season. If he continues to improve there, that could make him a weapon in this new offense.

“Getting into my routes and running after the catch have been the biggest things I’ve been working on,” Jaray Jenkins said. “After I catch the ball, getting north and south and getting to the endzone.”

With a group this loaded and a scheme that emphasizes getting playmakers and space, it’s reasonable to expect another explosive year out of LSU receivers. The competition in the room will continue to be something to watch and monitor. From front to back, this is one of the deepest rooms in all of the SEC.