In the midst of LSU’s battle stood Kyren Lacy, a wide-receiver who ultimately pieced together his strongest performance as a Tiger thus far.
For a team who’s offense has continued to be the backbone of its success, Lacy has found little opportunity to be a breakout player. In the game against Auburn, however, he became just what LSU needed to keep a dominant offense rolling.
The senior receiver transferred from University of Louisiana-Lafayette in his sophomore season, after helping the Cajuns garner a 13-1 record on the season, and ultimately a Sun Belt conference title.
Upon transferring to LSU in Brian Kelly’s first year as head coach, Lacy worked to develop himself into a player ready for the most brutal conference in all of college football. In his junior season, Lacy saw play time in all 14 games, starting in two of them. He finished the season with 24 receptions for 268 yards, but even then, Kelly felt his receiver still had some maturing to do.
His performance against Auburn this season confirmed that growth.
“Kyren Lacy probably had a breakout game,” Kelly said. “Last year, maybe Kyren doesn’t respond the right way, and maybe he drops his head a little bit. He’s matured so much that he stayed positive.”
Kelly was especially impressed with Lacy’s response to his dropped pass in LSU’s fifth drive of the game in the second quarter.
“He came to the sidelines and said ‘Coach, I owe you one,’ Kelly said. “I said, ‘No, you owe me two.’ and he gave us two.”
Lacy ultimately finished the night with four receptions for 111 yards. He also contributed a touchdown. This was the first time that Lacy garnered more than 100 receiving yards in a game for the Tigers. He finds success in the desire to be better, not just for himself but for his teammates and his coaches as well. The trust that Kelly had in Lacy even after his dropped pass was encouraging.
“When stuff like that happens, and your head coach comes to you, and he still believes in you, it just strikes another nerve in you to wanna go out and be better,” Lacy said.
In LSU’s sea of receivers, Lacy contributed, working to fill the gaps and compete with an offense that has been somewhat unstoppable all season. Working with some of the nation’s top receivers is what has been a driving force for Lacy. The Tigers’ receiving core has created a fiery atmosphere that has continuously welded his experience as a football player. Their work ethic has truly shaped his own.
“It’s unreal,” Lacy said when asked what it felt like to be a part of this offense. “These guys prepare way different.”
Lacy knew ahead of the game that Auburn would target two other receivers on LSU’s roster, Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers. He was prepared to make the plays in the moments that they couldn’t.
“I just had to take that next step and be the guy,” Lacy said.
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has become an unstoppable force all on his own, but the magic he creates with the rest of his offense has continuously proved just how deep the receiving room is. Lacy says their success is a testament to the work the team puts in.
“Those guys motivate me every week to want to go out and do better every week.” Lacy said. “To see what those guys do is unreal because they go after it every game, every practice and they give it their all.”
Lacy and the rest of the offense hope to continue building off this success throughout the rest of the season. Their next challenge will be found in LSU’s homecoming game against Army.
