It’s clear who the two veterans are in the LSU wide receiving corps, but plenty of other players are making their presence felt.
Juniors Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard have emerged as the starting outside receivers with Terrence Toliver’s eligibility complete. But junior Chris Tolliver, sophomores James Wright and Kadron Boone, and redshirt freshmen Armand Williams and Jarrett Fobbs are all in the mix for playing time.
Wright said the younger receivers have great examples to follow. Randle was second behind Toliver with 544 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2010, and Shepard was No. 3 with 254 yards and one touchdown, also rushing for 226 yards.
Wright could be on track to grab the third receiver spot after turning some heads Saturday in LSU’s second scrimmage of spring practice. He hauled in three touchdown catches — one each from seniors Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee and junior college transfer Zach Mettenberger. Wright caught two passes for 21 yards in 12 games as a freshman.
“I back up Rueben a lot in practice,” Wright said. “We feed off Rueben and Russell’s energy.”
Jefferson said Wright’s critical plays made him stand out in the scrimmage.
“What [Wright] is doing is what we’re looking for out of the receivers,” Jefferson said. “Our goal is to make sure he stays on this level throughout the rest of his career here.”
Only four LSU players recorded touchdown receptions in 2010 amid an anemic passing game. Now the Tigers have two veteran quarterbacks in Jefferson and Lee, and Randle said there is a tangible difference in the offensive mindset even after just nine spring practices.
“We’re more aggressive passing the ball downfield this spring than we were last season at all,” Randle said.
Randle said Williams has also caught his eye so far.
“Last year I took Armand Williams under my wings,” Randle said. “He came to me and asked me all kinds of things, so I’ve tried to get him better.”
Shepard said each of the younger receivers brings something valuable to the offense.
“Probably the biggest playmaker we have is James Wright. He’s somebody who steps up in every scrimmage,” Shepard said. “Then you have somebody like Kadron Boone who is a very skilled technician … Then Jarrett Fobbs and Armand Williams have all the potential in the world — probably the best two athletes in the room from a football standpoint.”
Shepard said he has lined up on the inside and Randle on the outside in two-receiver sets, but his biggest goal is to stretch the field more as an outside receiver.
“I like the outside,” Shepard said. “It’s the money position; you have to get out there and make tough plays against the best coverage. And blocking is easier because you’re not blocking 250-pound guys.”
Wright said he has played about half in the slot and half on the outside as a receiver this spring, and he has an open mind for his role next season.
Bob Becnel, Wright’s coach at Belle Chasse High School, said bumping up his weight to 207 pounds was certainly a benefit, as is his physicality paired with “soft-spoken” leadership.
“He always brought a lot of intensity to practice and brought everybody’s play up,” Becnel said. “He brought very little noise and a whole lot of follow-up.”
Tolliver was sidelined for much of his sophomore year with a head injury, playing in six games with one start against Ole Miss. He caught two passes for 35 yards last season.
 
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Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]