Brandon LaFell could be on an NFL roster right now.The senior wide receiver entered the 2009 NFL Draft but withdrew his name because, as he said, he had unfinished business at LSU.”I was going to graduate in December and get my diploma,” LaFell said. “I’d also have the chance to end off on the right foot.”LaFell said he didn’t like the idea of ending his college career with an 8-5 season after helping the Tigers to 12-2 and 11-2 records in his previous campaigns.”I felt like there’s no better way than to come back and lead our team to a big bowl game, maybe even a national championship — if we come together and play right and then get my diploma,” LaFell said. “Ain’t no better way to end my college career.”LaFell said he is back to return the Tigers to dominance and is doing what he can to make his team better.”I hate losing,” LaFell said. “Losing those games at home — that hurt. I just want to go out there, help my team and get this program back to where it used to be.”The Houston native led the Tigers with 63 receptions for 929 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and he will likely bolster the Tigers’ talented, but inexperienced, receiving corps.The Tigers are without wide receiver Demetrius Byrd, who departed for the NFL, and turn to junior Terrance Toliver and a group of other young receivers, including freshmen Rueben Randle and Jhyryn Taylor to fill his void.Toliver said having LaFell back will be a big boost to him as well as the other receivers hoping to emerge as offensive threats for the Tigers.”He’ll have a lot of double and triple teams,” Toliver said. “That‘ll open it up for the other guys.”LaFell said he isn’t worried about the lack of game experience among the other wide receivers.”I know those guys are ready based on what we did in spring,” he said.LaFell said the Tigers probably didn’t need him to return.”We’ve got guys that can ball,” LaFell said. “Me coming back is just a plus.”Freshman quarterback Russell Shepard said LaFell is in a unique position to mentor him. Shepard may see the field as wide receiver this season, and he said LaFell can offer him insight at that position as well as the quarterback position.”Brandon’s a teacher on the field,” Shepard said. “To have a receiver that knows the game and knows the defenses like that helps out a lot, and he can make you look way better than what you really are.”LaFell said defensive backs on the team, such as junior Chad Jones, sophomore Patrick Peterson and senior Chris Hawkins, are helping him prepare for this season by helping him run more defined routes.”If you don’t get better going against those guys every day, I don’t think this game is meant for you,” LaFell said. “Those guys demand the best from you every time you line up.”And the Tiger defenders feel the relationship with the receivers helps them as well.”Anytime you have a guy that good come back, and you get to go against him in practice, it helps me, it helps him, it helps everybody around him,” Hawkins said. “He brings leadership, he brings skill and ability, and it makes you have to step up your game.”LaFell’s coaches have noticed his desire to be great for the Tigers.”Now that he’s a senior and veteran player, he’s a big receiver that knows what he’s doing,” said LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton. “He’s a very intelligent player that had a lot of good plays last year. I’m sure he will have a lot of catches this year.”LaFell said he wants he and his team to be better and he is willing to do anything necessary to make that happen.”You’ve got to go out there with that mindset that I’m going to be the best in the game,” LaFell said.  “I’m trying to get Pat better. I’m trying to get Chad better. I’m about to work my butt off, so everybody can be better out here.”—-Contact Amos Morale at [email protected]