It’s a first audition for the LSU football team’s wide receivers.
On Feb. 13, the Tigers announced the hiring of former Georgia wide receivers coach Tony Ball, who spent nine years in Athens mentoring Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green in his time with the Bulldogs.
Sophomore wide receiver Malachi Dupre said while the offense as a whole hasn’t transformed, Ball has been inflicting change on the unit.
“It definitely is a first audition for Coach Ball, but nothing else has changed as far as anything else with the offense,” Dupre said. “This is the first time he’s seeing us on the field, so it is a first start in that aspect for him to see our abilities and him to learn … what we can do.”
While at Georgia, Ball was part of two Southeastern Conference Eastern Divsion Championship teams and set multiple school records. Georgia’s 2012 offense set the school record for total yards (6,547) and touchdowns (72), while the 2013 team set the school record in yards per game with 484.2.
In nine years at Georgia, Ball helped the Bulldogs to an 84-35 overall record, five seasons of at least 10 wins and six bowl victories.
“Tony is a very talented coach who is an SEC veteran,” said LSU coach Les Miles in the wake of Ball’s hiring in February. “He’s going to be a real asset for us in the passing game. He’s going to be able to come in and take our group of receivers and develop them into great players. We are excited about having him join our staff.”
Ball’s hire comes as a new start for the LSU wide receiving corps to show what it’s capable of as spring practice rages on.
“It’s an open competition,” said LSU sophomore wide receiver Trey Quinn. “A lot of people see [it as] that because there is a new coach here. We’re just out there competing, trying to earn our spots and while we’re doing that we’re competing against ourselves, making each other better.”
The spring is also an opportunity for Ball to win over his new group.
Ball’s passion for the game has helped him along in his journey to Baton Rouge, winning over the wide receivers with each passing day.
Quinn said Ball’s energy and intensity on the practice field is wonderful to see when they show up to practice each day.
“I really like him,” Quinn said. “He is a good guy. His approach to football is [that it’s] something to enjoy. It’s different having a new coach, but we’re all enjoying the process.”
While it’s a new beginning for the wide receivers, the goal hasn’t changed. The Tigers brought Ball in to improve the passing game under offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, and Ball is working to achieve that goal.
“With Coach Ball coming in, we’re ears-open, ready to learn some new techniques,” Quinn said. “We’re just ready and enthused about this spring to prepare for the fall. As a group — the receivers and quarterbacks — we’re just trying to get the connection
down and improve as a unit. He’s very specific on footwork.
“He has this set mindset, and he’s going to try and get it as perfect as possible, and we’re willing to do that. We just got to buy in.”
You can reach Jack Chascin on Twitter @Chascin_TDR.