'26 MS WR Tristen Keys (lsu commit)

[VawlIn]

Way too early to call Mike Matthews a bust. I don't understand why some of you are straining so hard to make the case against Tennessee. Are you even Tennessee fans at all? I doubt it with some of you.

He caught 4 passes last year. The only other top 10 receiver that had a worse year than him was Micah Hudson and he’s hit the portal 3 times already. So far he’s not lived up to expectations, and in today’s era you’re lucky if you have a guy for 3 years. So his clock is already ticking

 

[Skooter]

Here is the route tree everybody talks about. Our wrs run these routes. To say we don’t is a joke. We won’t run the ins and digs and slants if we can’t trust the qb read/arm.
The notion UT WRs don’t know how to run an out, post or dig is ridiculous. These kids have been running the same routes since 7 v 7.

 

[BowlBrother85]

He caught 4 passes last year. The only other top 10 receiver that had a worse year than him was Micah Hudson and he’s hit the portal 3 times already. So far he’s not lived up to expectations, and in today’s era you’re lucky if you have a guy for 3 years. So his clock is already ticking

OMG. He's had 1 season.

I will say it again. Way too early to call Mike Matthews a bust.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

OMG. He's had 1 season.

i will say it again. Way too early to call Mike Matthews a bust.

He was injured in Fall practice and much of the early season. He was, essentially, a Freshman entering SEC football at mid season with very little practice or physical development last season. He will be one of the leading, if not the leading, receiver on the team this Fall.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

He caught 4 passes last year. The only other top 10 receiver that had a worse year than him was Micah Hudson and he’s hit the portal 3 times already. So far he’s not lived up to expectations, and in today’s era you’re lucky if you have a guy for 3 years. So his clock is already ticking

Good grief dude. Matthews was hurt a lot of last year. He hasn’t played that much. Not every good WR blows up on their first year.

 

[allvolrecruiting]

Already calling Mike a bust is something lol

 

[VolGee4]

He caught 4 passes last year. The only other top 10 receiver that had a worse year than him was Micah Hudson and he’s hit the portal 3 times already. So far he’s not lived up to expectations, and in today’s era you’re lucky if you have a guy for 3 years. So his clock is already ticking

He caught 7. Cedric Tillman caught 8 total in three years before Heupel got here and then became a star. I just laugh at some of the posts on this board.

 

[LittleVol]

Velus making the NFL was a big win for Heupel. Outside of Hyatt these weren't the same caliber of recruits as LSUs.

Kayshon Boutte also saw his draft stock plummet under Kelly.

Boutte was very lazy…ran a 4.6 at the combine irrc and got fat under Kelly. Not sure you can blame Kelly for that.

Kaleb Webb was developing. And they should have given more of a shot imo.
Nimrod physically was developing GREAT, but just couldn’t catch… but he was recruited as 6’2” 185 lbs kid that ran 4.6 - but left Tennessee a 6’3” 220 lbs kid that ran 4.47. Just couldn’t catch.
The Millbrook NC kid was very talented but injured and lost his confidence.

And I’ve personally NEVER gained confidence in Halzle. So I understand why the kids left…
Golesh wasn’t some offensive wizard. But he was effective and had enough creativity to keep defenses truly off balance .

Got sidetracked but my point is LSU the past 4 years has had more talented WRs on their roster.
And they were more prepared as evidence by their NFL rookie numbers.

Velus was an outstanding example of Golesh/Heupel putting him in position to highlight his skillset and get drafted.

 

[Garren04]

It sounds like it basically comes down to how our WR’s perform vs theirs this upcoming season

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

He caught 7. Cedric Tillman caught 8 total in three years before Heupel got here and then became a star. I just laugh at some of the posts on this board.

And 2 of those were for TD's

He scored the first time we threw it to him lol

 

[TheMookieMonster]

It sounds like it basically comes down to how our WR’s perform vs theirs this upcoming season

Not exactly a fair test on even ground considering they have one of the best QBs in the country returning to their team and we have…..well….I don’t know.

 

[VawlIn]

It sounds like it basically comes down to how our WR’s perform vs theirs this upcoming season

It’s not that. We just need them to be productive and get drafted or become an obvious NFL prospect

 

[Jackcrevol]

Cmon give this kid the Keys to the offense.

 

[AllVol11717]

Already calling Mike a bust is something lol

Especially with a staff that seems so hesitant to rely too much on many true freshmen.

Besides Boo and guys playing due to injuries, CJH and staff haven’t really played too many guys their first year here.

 

[RiseToTheTop]

Especially with a staff that seems so hesitant to rely too much on many true freshmen.

Besides Boo and guys playing due to injuries, CJH and staff haven’t really played too many guys their first year here.

I agree If anything, blame the staff.

Only receivers to do anything were the guys Heup inherited. Well i guess Bru is the only one. Thornton had ab 5 memorable plays in 2 seasons.


But this staff watched guys like Chas Nimrod drop every pass ever thrown to him and still wouldnt let Mike on the field over him.

 

[Orange.]

What if we didn't have naive people and trolls making posts whose only real use will be for LSU to screenshot and use against us in the recruitment?

 

[Jackcrevol]

What if we didn't have naive people and trolls making posts whose only real use will be for LSU to screenshot and use against us in the recruitment?

Tristen is the biggest cruit in this cycle. There.

 

[deatojl]

Especially with a staff that seems so hesitant to rely too much on many true freshmen.

Besides Boo and guys playing due to injuries, CJH and staff haven’t really played too many guys their first year here.

I assume you are referring to true Freshman as guys in their first year here. While the staff doesn't play true Freshman as much as some programs, here is the list of guys who have:
2021
Tiyon Evans-81 carries for 525 yards and 6 TDs/4 catches for 74 yards and a TD
Jaylen Wright-85 carries for 409 yards and 4 TDs/6 catches for 22 yards
Walker Merrill-5 catches for 52 yards

Christian Charles-8 tackles and 1PD
De'Shawn Rucker-5 tackles
Aaron Willis-1 tackle

2022
Dylan Sampson-58 caries for 397 yards and 6 TDs/3 catches for 24 yards
Squirrel White-30 catches for 481 yards and 2 TDs

Joshua Josephs-12 tackles, 1 sack, 2 PD
Elijah Herring-11 tackle, 2 sacks, 1 PD
Tyre West-9 tackles, 2 sacks
Christian Harrison-9 tackles
James Pearce-5 tackles, 2 sacks

2023
Nico Iamaleava-28/45 314 yards 2 Tds 0 Ints/20 carries for 71 yards and 3 TDs
Cam Seldon-25 carries for 106 yards
Ethan Davis-2 catches for 33 yards
Khalifa Keith-10 carries for 21 yards


Daevin Hobbs-14 tackles
Arion Carter-17 tackles, 1 PD
Jalen Smith-4 tackles
Rickey Gibson-9 tackles, 1 PD
Jeremiah Telander-35 tackles, 1 PD

2024
Mike Matthews-7 catches for 90 yards and 2 TDs
Braylon Staley-3 catches for 21 yards
Peyton Lewis-64 carries for 339 yards and 3 TDs/4 catches for 14 yards
Jake Merklinger-6/9 for 48 yards 0TDs 2 INTs

Boo Carter-38 tackles, 1 sack, 1 Int
Jordan Ross-3 tackles
Kaleb Beasley-2 tackles, 1 PD
Edwin Spillman-6 tackles
Jordan Burns-1 tackle
Edrees Farooq-13 tackles
Carson Gentle-5 tackles, .5 sack

 

[Skooter]

Choice routes are harder for freshmen to read and trust their read. Wrong read equals INT. We have a lot of these routes.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I assume you are referring to true Freshman as guys in their first year here. While the staff doesn't play true Freshman as much as some programs, here is the list of guys who have:
2021
Tiyon Evans-81 carries for 525 yards and 6 TDs/4 catches for 74 yards and a TD
Jaylen Wright-85 carries for 409 yards and 4 TDs/6 catches for 22 yards
Walker Merrill-5 catches for 52 yards

Christian Charles-8 tackles and 1PD
De'Shawn Rucker-5 tackles
Aaron Willis-1 tackle

2022
Dylan Sampson-58 caries for 397 yards and 6 TDs/3 catches for 24 yards
Squirrel White-30 catches for 481 yards and 2 TDs

Joshua Josephs-12 tackles, 1 sack, 2 PD
Elijah Herring-11 tackle, 2 sacks, 1 PD
Tyre West-9 tackles, 2 sacks
Christian Harrison-9 tackles
James Pearce-5 tackles, 2 sacks

2023
Nico Iamaleava-28/45 314 yards 2 Tds 0 Ints/20 carries for 71 yards and 3 TDs
Cam Seldon-25 carries for 106 yards
Ethan Davis-2 catches for 33 yards
Khalifa Keith-10 carries for 21 yards


Daevin Hobbs-14 tackles
Arion Carter-17 tackles, 1 PD
Jalen Smith-4 tackles
Rickey Gibson-9 tackles, 1 PD
Jeremiah Telander-35 tackles, 1 PD

2024
Mike Matthews-7 catches for 90 yards and 2 TDs
Braylon Staley-3 catches for 21 yards
Peyton Lewis-64 carries for 339 yards and 3 TDs/4 catches for 14 yards
Jake Merklinger-6/9 for 48 yards 0TDs 2 INTs

Boo Carter-38 tackles, 1 sack, 1 Int
Jordan Ross-3 tackles
Kaleb Beasley-2 tackles, 1 PD
Edwin Spillman-6 tackles
Jordan Burns-1 tackle
Edrees Farooq-13 tackles
Carson Gentle-5 tackles, .5 sack

Tiyon Evans came from JUCO.

 

[deatojl]

Tiyon Evans came from JUCO.

You're right, I forgot he was a Juco guy. The point is we have has quite a few true Freshman get playing time each year under Heupel's staff, with some getting significant playing time and production. Maybe not as much as some other schools but it is definitely more than just Boo Carter and a few other guys due to injuries. Every year except 2023, we have had a true Freshman RB get at least 58 carries and at least 339 yards. We've also had 7 different guys record double digit tackles as true Freshmen, two of which had 35 or more and five who have recorded at least one sack.

 

[VawlIn]

Choice routes are harder for freshmen to read and trust their read. Wrong read equals INT. We have a lot of these routes.

That’s one reason I’d like to see the offense get changed up a little bit. It’s a lot more difficult to plug in young athletes into a system like Heupel runs. We need some more traditional passing concepts to base our intermediate passing game around to make it easier for guys like Matthews and Staley to come in and make an impact early

 

[VawlIn]

I agree If anything, blame the staff.

Only receivers to do anything were the guys Heup inherited. Well i guess Bru is the only one. Thornton had ab 5 memorable plays in 2 seasons.


But this staff watched guys like Chas Nimrod drop every pass ever thrown to him and still wouldnt let Mike on the field over him.

That’s because they they look at each receiver spot as completely different positions and don’t really cross train receivers to be inside out guys. Had they developed Matthews into a utility guy instead of just playing him on the outside you likely would’ve seen more Matthews than Nimrod

 

[AllVol11717]

I assume you are referring to true Freshman as guys in their first year here. While the staff doesn't play true Freshman as much as some programs, here is the list of guys who have:
2021
Tiyon Evans-81 carries for 525 yards and 6 TDs/4 catches for 74 yards and a TD
Jaylen Wright-85 carries for 409 yards and 4 TDs/6 catches for 22 yards
Walker Merrill-5 catches for 52 yards

Christian Charles-8 tackles and 1PD
De'Shawn Rucker-5 tackles
Aaron Willis-1 tackle

2022
Dylan Sampson-58 caries for 397 yards and 6 TDs/3 catches for 24 yards
Squirrel White-30 catches for 481 yards and 2 TDs

Joshua Josephs-12 tackles, 1 sack, 2 PD
Elijah Herring-11 tackle, 2 sacks, 1 PD
Tyre West-9 tackles, 2 sacks
Christian Harrison-9 tackles
James Pearce-5 tackles, 2 sacks

2023
Nico Iamaleava-28/45 314 yards 2 Tds 0 Ints/20 carries for 71 yards and 3 TDs
Cam Seldon-25 carries for 106 yards
Ethan Davis-2 catches for 33 yards
Khalifa Keith-10 carries for 21 yards


Daevin Hobbs-14 tackles
Arion Carter-17 tackles, 1 PD
Jalen Smith-4 tackles
Rickey Gibson-9 tackles, 1 PD
Jeremiah Telander-35 tackles, 1 PD

2024
Mike Matthews-7 catches for 90 yards and 2 TDs
Braylon Staley-3 catches for 21 yards
Peyton Lewis-64 carries for 339 yards and 3 TDs/4 catches for 14 yards
Jake Merklinger-6/9 for 48 yards 0TDs 2 INTs

Boo Carter-38 tackles, 1 sack, 1 Int
Jordan Ross-3 tackles
Kaleb Beasley-2 tackles, 1 PD
Edwin Spillman-6 tackles
Jordan Burns-1 tackle
Edrees Farooq-13 tackles
Carson Gentle-5 tackles, .5 sack

I’m not saying they get absolutely zero snaps, I’m saying it’s not common for a true freshman to play a significant role under this staff. RB is one position that is an exception, but partially because we’ve had super thin RB rooms and tend to run 3 guys a game.

Boo and probably David Sanders will be the exception to the rule there but as far as Matthews is concerned he wasn’t really given an opportunity until every option older than him was either injured or failed and decided to leave.

My point being, we’ll rarely know if a player is a bust or not right away because of the staffs tendency to lean towards experience over raw ability.

 

[MarcoVol]

I agree If anything, blame the staff.

Only receivers to do anything were the guys Heup inherited. Well i guess Bru is the only one. Thornton had ab 5 memorable plays in 2 seasons.


But this staff watched guys like Chas Nimrod drop every pass ever thrown to him and still wouldnt let Mike on the field over him.

Always funny when posters wanna make personnel decisions based on seeing players 12x per year