Returning 2016 LSU Wide Receivers

Since Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry took their talents to the NFL, LSU’s Travin Dural has been the main attraction in the Tigers passing game.

He has been able to use his exceptional speed and uncanny ability to track the ball in flight on very long passes to create big play after big play.

Never has that been more evident, than in this video right below.

Unless the recovery from a torn hamstring suffered against Ole Miss derails his plans, Dural is likely headed to the NFL. He was projected as a second or third round pick before that setback.

Even without Dural, the Tigers are loaded at Wide Receiver going into next year.

Dural still has the most big plays to his credit, but sophomore Malachi Dupre has passed him as the number one receiver on the team.

Nov 28, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Malachi Dupre (15) reaches for the ball in front of Texas A&M Aggies running back Brandon Williams (21) in the first quarter at Tiger Stadium. The pass was incomplete. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Sophomores John Diarse and Trey Quinn are also returning.

Quinn has been a steady change of pace player at LSU. Diarse sometimes struggles to track deep balls, but he is one of the most exciting players on the team when he has the ball in space.

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Junior DJ Chark is returning. He had moved near the top of the depth chart in the offseason but slid back during the year.

Part of the reason Chark stopped getting game reps was the emergence of freshman Tyron Johnson. Johnson has the speed, size and hands to develop into a sensational receiver while at LSU.

Jazz Ferguson is another intriguing returning freshman. At 6’5″ 215 pounds, he is the biggest target on the team.

Ferguson was high enough on the pecking chart to burn his redshirt in limited duty this year. He is a player to look out for this offseason.

Another big target the Tigers coaching staff have their eye on is Stephen Sullivan, a 6’5″ 230 pound high schooler from Donaldsonvile. Getting him signed with this years recruiting class would be a major coup.

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The Tigers already have commitments from Dee Anderson, a fleet 6’5″ 4 star WR from Desoto Texas; and three star athlete Da’Monte Coxie from Reserve.

Most of the recruiting attention is on the quarterback situation and high profile defensive front seven players; but the LSU coaching staff is quietly putting together a very good receiver class, and given their track record you can expect at least one to contribute as a freshman.

All in all whether Dural returns or not the receiving corps, like the rest of the offense, is very talented and very deep.

Sep 19, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Travin Dural (83) breaks away from Auburn Tigers linebacker Cassanova McKinzy (8) during the first quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The youth movement of the last two seasons was necessitated by mass draft defections but it is now paying off.

LSU will take the field next year with an offense that is very deep, very talented, loaded with NFL prospects and for the first time since Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry’s last year loaded with experience.

The Tigers may still have a competition at quarterback, but the player that lines up under center is going to be well stocked with targets….