To see an interview of Brandon LaFell, click here.
LSU junior wide receiver Brandon LaFell redeemed himself.LaFell had a disastrous game against Auburn in 2007 when the Houston native dropped a pass into the hands of an Auburn defender with the game still in question.But LaFell bounced back in a big way Saturday and caught four passes for 92 yards, including an 18-yard, game-winning touchdown reception with a little more than a minute to play.LSU coach Les Miles said the Tigers were hoping to move into better field goal range with the play call, but LaFell’s own determination got him into the end zone.”Last year’s Auburn [final drive] was ‘Let’s go for the touchdown,'” Miles said. “This year it was a nice pass that was underneath the coverage that Brandon LaFell interpreted to be a touchdown. It was another way to get closer to the end zone that may have resulted in a touchdown.”LaFell said he hopes making the game-winning catch against Auburn will end the discussion about the 2007 game.”It was so big for me,” he said. “I said to myself, ‘If I could go out and make a big block or a big catch on the last drive to win us this game, that hopefully everybody would forget about last year.'”With freshman quarterback Jarrett Lee in the game, following sophomore Andrew Hatch’s injury, LaFell did all of his damage.LaFell has caught nine of his 15 passes this season from Lee, including all three of his touchdowns.LaFell said he didn’t doubt Lee’s ability to rebound from a slow start, but he doesn’t have a preference toward either quarterback.”It doesn’t matter where [the passes] come from — as long as they get there so we can make plays,” he said. “So far, Jarrett has hit some big ones. But Andrew will get his, too.”But LaFell said he prides himself most on his blocks down the field to aid junior receiver Chris Mitchell earlier in that drive.Mitchell said blocking is the most underrated aspect of being a receiver, and he tried to return the favor to LaFell on the touchdown play.”That’s one of the biggest things we emphasize on pass plays,” Mitchell said. “If I’m not going to get the ball, then I have to go find somebody to hit. Brandon blocks for me. When he gets it, I want to knock someone out for him, too.”Aside from being an active blocker, LaFell is LSU’s No. 1 receiver in every major statistical category with 15 catches for 248 yards and three touchdowns.LaFell also leads the Southeastern Conference in receiving yards per game and is in a three-way tie for the conference lead in touchdown receptions with Alabama’s Julio Jones and Ole Miss’s Shay Hodge.”They can’t double team anyone now,” said senior receiver Demetrius Byrd. “If they shift to me, then he’ll be open. If they shift back to him, then I will make some plays. It’s good for our offense.”LaFell also opened 2007 in style and caught a touchdown pass in LSU’s 45-0 victory against Mississippi State.But most people define LaFell’s sophomore season by his issues catching the ball.Despite the drops, LaFell quietly led LSU in receiving yards, catching 50 passes for 656 yards and four touchdowns.LaFell said an offseason talk with former LSU wide receiver Early Doucet made him realize 2008 was his time to shine.”I talked to Early after the season, and he told me that this year anytime we needed a play, coach Miles would dial my number,” he said. “Now I know that everytime the coach dials my number, I have to take advantage.”Miles has been dialing LaFell’s number ever since his first game with the Tigers.After redshirting in 2005, LaFell caught a 58-yard touchdown pass on his first collegiate play and the third offensive play of LSU’s 2006 season.But a midseason injury and a depth chart that featured future NFL players Dwayne Bowe, Craig Davis and Early Doucet limited LaFell’s playing time.LaFell said learning from his predecessors has helped him in his quest to be the next LSU receiver to make it to the next level.”All of those guys are at the highest level in the world” he said. “If I can follow what they did in the locker room and on Saturdays and replicate it on the field, I’d like to think I can do for some of the younger guys what guys like [Doucet] and the others did for me.”—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]