Brandon LaFell and Demetrius Byrd were the wide receivers featured in most LSU highlight reels last season.LaFell led the team in receiving yards in 2008 with 929, which ranked second in the Southeastern Conference, and Byrd, the team’s second-leading wideout, gained fame for catching the game-winning touchdown pass against Auburn in Oct. 2007. LaFell had his own game-winner against Auburn in Sept. 2008.
With the memories of LSU’s 8-5 season now put aside and the team focused on regaining national prowess, LaFell has a receiving corps around him that he trusts will take the reins on offense with him.Byrd was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 2009 NFL Draft, but LaFell spurned the draft to return for his senior season.LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton said LaFell returning for another season will give the wide receivers a sense of valuable veteran leadership and knowledge of the game.”He’s played the most of any receiver probably since [former Tiger] Early Doucet,” Crowton said. “He’s big, [6-foot-4, 208 pounds], maybe 210 after a good meal … He had a lot of catches last year and made a lot of big plays, so it’s nice to have him to help the younger guys around him learn from his example.”One receiver LaFell said will be an effective weapon for the Tigers this season is junior Terrance Toliver, despite starting just two games in 2008.”Terrance Toliver should have a really big season,” LaFell said. “I don’t think he might [step up with Byrd gone]; I know he will. He’s got the size, the speed and the skills to do everything you need as a receiver. If he puts it all together, he could have one of the best seasons and one of the best careers of all of us.”Toliver finished fourth on the team with 257 yards his sophomore season and had just one touchdown reception, but he said he is ready to play a bigger role and have a “breakout year” in 2009. “Demetrius Byrd being gone is a big loss for us because he’s been so productive in his two years, but I feel like I can step in and be part of the offense,” Toliver said. “I came and got more focused, stopped a lot of playing around and made plays when they threw me the ball.”One of LSU’s most touted new arrivals is Rueben Randle, the No. 1 wide receiver recruit in the nation by Rivals.com, Scout.com and ESPNU and the No. 1 prospect in Louisiana by Rivals and SuperPrep.com.LSU coach Les Miles said the Tigers’ blue-chip receiver has an opportunity to see immediate playing time in his first season in Baton Rouge.”Rueben Randle looks like he is soon to be a very quality receiver,” Miles said. “I think we’re five deep. That’s certainly enough. We need a good, quality receiving corps in this next [recruiting] class.”Randle said he is working to take in everything he can before the season starts so he can contribute his skills in the best ways possible.”Being here in the summer for 7-on-7s helped me learn a good bit of the offense,” Randle said. “I can look at [my teammates] run my routes to make myself better. I was excited to meet them and build a relationship that’s going to help us in the future.”LaFell said he anticipates Randle and other receivers like seniors Chris Mitchell and R.J. Jackson to have opportunities to make plays if opposing defenses put more emphasis on covering him.”I told them they have to go out there, work hard at practice and prepare themselves to be left one-on-one to catch the ball,” LaFell said. “When I first came in, I knew a lot of guys were going to double-team Early [Doucet], which would leave me one-on-one with their second and third-best corner, so I had to take full advantage of that.”Miles said the team’s combination of young and veteran wide receivers will be an integral aspect to propel the LSU offense in 2009.”These should be a number of guys that should give our opponents a difficult time in coverage,” Miles said. “It’s imperative that group has a strong year, and we’re counting on them to do that. They are one of the strengths of our team.”—-Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]