LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is off to the NFL after declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft on Tuesday night.
Thomas, a pivotal piece to the Tigers' offensive success in 2023, made splashes alongside Malik Nabers in the wide receiver room.
Despite Nabers receiving much of the praise, Brian Kelly believes Thomas' name deserves to be mentioned among the top wideouts in college football.
“I think you have to include Brian Thomas‘ numbers and Brian I think rivals Marvin Harrison‘s numbers right now and he’s in conversation for the Heisman,” Kelly said this fall. “I think if you take both my receivers, those two and what they have done could easily be in that conversation.”
Thomas capped off the 2023 season with 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns. He ended his LSU career with 127 catches for 1,897 yards and 24 touchdowns.
This fall, he was named an AP All-American.
Now, his attention is focused towards the 2023 NFL Draft with expert Mel Kiper keeping his name in the conversation among the elite players.
“The way I line them up right now,” Kiper said last month. “Rome Odunze, Malik Nabers, then Keon Coleman. Then you can’t forget about this other group of receivers like Adonai Mitchell from Texas, Xavier Worthy from Texas. I mentioned Ladd McConkey, Xavier Legette from South Carolina is really good. Brian Thomas Jr., the other wide receiver we talked about with his size and catch radius … To me, this receiver group is the best in the draft.”
The Tigers have now lost Jayden Daniels, Brian Thomas Jr, Charles Turner, Mekhi Wingo and Jordan Jefferson to the NFL Draft with more decisions to be revealed sooner rather than later.
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