The 2008 LSU football team seemed like a drastically different team than the 2007 national championship squad, but little changed within the receiving corps.The 2008 Tigers entered the season after losing only one starting wide receiver, Early Doucet. The 2009 Tigers will follow a similar pattern after losing senior Demetrius Byrd, but they hope to see different results.”We don’t want to end on a year like last year,” said senior tight end Richard Dickson. “We want to come out here and prove we can be the best team in the country.”The 2008 receivers lacked the production of the national championship team, catching 50 fewer passes for 537 fewer yards and eight fewer touchdowns.The 2009 corps is full of veteran receivers who have made an impact in years past.Senior wide receiver Brandon LaFell almost decided to forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft, but chose to remain a Tiger in the end.”He’s basically like our general of the receivers,” said senior wide receiver Chris Mitchell. “When things aren’t going right, we turn to him. We look at him to make us better.”LaFell led the Tigers last season in most receiving categories. The 2008 First-Team All-SEC receiver led the team in number of catches (63), total yards receiving (929), yards per catch (14.7), touchdowns (8) and average yards per game (71.5).”It’s a team thing. If he comes back to help the team, I’m in for it,” said redshirt freshman receiver Tim Molton. “Him coming back is not going to do nothing but teach me more things, so whenever he does leave, I’ll be a better person.”Alongside LaFell will be junior wide receiver Terrance Toliver, who hopes his two years of experience can propel him into a larger role in the offense.”I just know it’s my time to step up and make some plays,” Toliver said. “All I want to do is get better and help my team win.”Mitchell, Molton and redshirt freshman Chris Tolliver join LaFell and Toliver at wide receiver.Molton, who redshirted in 2008, has impressed his fellow receivers with his progressive talent and ability.”Molton has come along well,” Toliver said. “He’s catching a lot of balls out here. He’s learning.”Coach Les Miles said Molton runs great routes and has excellent ball skills and he expects Molton to make an impact soon.Molton said he’s glad his efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by his coaches and teammates.”It feels real good to see that another player higher than you sees a lot of potential in you. Sees you doing the right things, following the right steps,” Molton said.Dickson should help as a receiving threat at the tight end position after catching more than 30 passes and tying an LSU record for touchdown receptions by a tight end with five touchdown receptions in each of the last two seasons. Miles said rising sophomore receiver Deangelo Peterson might also play some at tight end.”We want to see if he can go up there and be a playmaker as a receiver and a blocker,” Miles said. “He’s gained a little bit of weight, but he’s pointing in the right direction.”Seniors Jared Mitchell and Trindon Holliday are not at spring practice with the team because of previous obligations to track and field and baseball, respectively. The Tigers’ receiving corps should also get a boost when Rueben Randle, Rivals.com’s No. 1 receiver in the 2009 recruiting class, joins the team.—-Contact Jarred LeBlanc at [email protected]