Meet LSU's New Number One Receiver
By Tony Thomas
In 2023, Thibodaux, Louisiana native Kyren Lacy caught 30 of Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels's 236 completions and racked up 558 yards with seven touchdowns. He ranked third on the team in receiving yards and touchdown receptions, but his 18.60 yards per catch average led the team (with 30 or more catches), and was better than Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas, Jr. who were both 2024 first-round NFL draft picks.
Lacy recorded five games last season of over 20 yards per reception and caught at least one pass in 10 of 13 games last season.
Heading into his third season in Death Valley as a 5th year senior and with 27 games played for the Tigers, Lacy has reportedly stepped up his game and his mental approach and is a more vocal leader on the field. That bodes well for the Tigers as the wide receiver room will be thick on talent, but thin on returning experience. CJ Daniels and Zavion Thomas, in addition to Aaron Anderson, Shelton Sampson, and Kyle Parker will battle it out to see who can lock up the WR3 position opposite Lacy and Chris Hilton.
Lacy achieved some career highs a season ago:
- 111 receiving yards vs. Auburn
- 57-yard reception vs. Auburn
- Two receiving touchdowns vs. Georgia State
- Six catches vs. Wisconsin in ReliaQuest Bowl
At 6’2”, 215 lbs., Lacy presents a big weapon on the perimeter for presumed QB1 starter Garrett Nussmeier and is a matchup problem against smaller defenders.
Prior to LSU, Lacy spent two seasons with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and was recruited by Billy Napier after Lacy posted 18 receiving touchdowns during his senior season of high school. Napier is now the head coach at Florida. For his collegiate career, Lacy has 104 catches for 1,494 yards and 17 touchdowns to his credit.
Look for Lacy to be the go-to receiver for Nussmeier and have a stellar season in the system of co-offensive coordinators Joe Sloan and Cortez Hankton. LSU opens the 2024 season on September 1st in Las Vegas vs the USC Trojans.