The title of WRU is a prestigious one and one that LSU represents with pride. Between Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., LSU has been home to some elite level talent over the years and it’s always next man up.
Despite the poor testing from last year’s number one in Kayshon Boutte, the trend is expected to continue as Boutte has impressed during the Patriots’ rookie camp. So it’s next man up…introducing Malik Nabers.
The background
A four-star prospect and 19th ranked wide receiver in the 2021 class, Nabers is a phenomenal athlete. During his time at Southside High School in Louisiana he excelled in basketball and track, as well as football. Nabers received offers from some of the top schools in the country including Michigan and Georgia. After an initial commitment to Mississippi State in the summer of 2020, Nabers flipped his commitment to LSU just a few months later, signing his letter of intent in December 2020.
Nabers appeared in a handful of games as a freshman but he gave the Tigers a glimpse into his potential. He racked up 28 catches for 417 yards and four scores, dazzling with his route running and ability in the open field. Whilst 417 yards is solid for a freshman with a bunch of catches, it’s much more impressive when you account for the quarterback situation at LSU in 2021.
A breakout sophomore season
Rolling into 2022 it felt like it was going to be an important year for Nabers. He knew he’d still be WR2 behind Kayshon Boutte and would be competing with fellow sophomore and Louisiana native Brian Thomas Jr., but there was plenty of change. He would be dealing with a new quarterback in Jayden Daniels and a new head coach in Brian Kelly. With a new-look offense, Nabers would need to adapt to the quickly to make his mark.
As the season got underway, Nabers quickly established himself as Jayden Daniels’ top target. He put up 80 yards and a touchdown against Southern, 129 yards against UAB at the backend of the season, and 128 yards and a score against national champions Georgia in the SEC championship game.
Nabers also had 49 yards in LSU’s historic win against Alabama in November, coming up big in overtime with some crucial third down catches. He finished the season with 1,017 yards and three touchdowns on his 72 catches.
Nabers’ upside
Nabers’ speed is one of the first things that will jump out to you on film. His short area quickness and ability to make cuts in the slot is incredible, but he can also peel the top off a defense when he lines up outside. Nabers also shines in contested situations, attacking the ball at the high point with a vice-like grip or bringing a ball in while wearing defenders like a mink coat.
His short area quickness also shows up in the open field. Nabers can quickly spread a defense out and burst through gaps while cutting in and out to drop defenders like flies. His route running is also extremely silky. His understanding of defensive alignments allows him to exploit gaps in zone coverages and he can lose guys in man coverage thanks to his technique and athletic ability.
Areas for improvement
It isn’t all perfect. When it comes to his vertical route tree, Nabers doesn’t always throttle down effectively. This lack of consistency causes issues against speedier corners and can leave him looking lethargic out of his breaks. Nabers struggles to consistently beat press coverage consistently which can cause issues when lining up outside.
Overall, Malik Nabers is a top receiver who will easily find a home in the NFL for teams looking for the next star from WRU. Until then, Tigers fans can enjoy watching him tear up the SEC and CFB on saturdays.
