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Dec 31, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Aaron Anderson (1) runs the ball during the second half against the Baylor Bears at NRG Stadium. The Tigers defeat the Bears 44-31. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

The Early Predictions: Looking Into LSU Football's Wide Receiver Depth Chart

Originally posted on LSU Tigers on SI | By Zach Nagy | Last updated Jan 20, 2025 10:30 AM ET

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers will flaunt an embarrassment of riches offensively in 2025 headlined by Garrett Nussmeier returning with the program.

Nussmeier will be back in the purple and gold where he will look to build off of a productive first season as the starter in Baton Rouge.

This time around, the Tigers' starting signal-caller will have a wide receiver room with a myriad of weapons to choose from.

"This year was a huge growth year for me. I said it in September, and I still stand on it. I hope that I would be a better player now than I was in September, and I think that that was proven to be true," Nussmeier said in November. "I think that our team got better throughout the year. We got closer, and we got better."

Now, he'll have a different receiving corps to work with, but one that attains speed, athleticism and physical players to choose from.

Who will carve out a role with the first-team this offseason heading into a critical 2025 season?

The "Way-Too-Early" Depth Chart Predictions: Wide Receiver Room

Starters: Nic Anderson, Barion Brown and Aaron Anderson

The competition level will be high in the LSU wide receiver room this offseason with the coaching staff adding talented playmakers Nic Anderson and Barion Brown via the Transfer Portal.

For Anderson, he set the Oklahoma freshman record for touchdown receptions with 10 in 2023. His 798 receiving yards that year rank No. 2 in Oklahoma history for a freshman.

In two years with the Sooners, Anderson appeared in 17 games with six starts, all coming as a redshirt freshman in 2023. Anderson missed the entire 2024 season with an injury.

Now, he heads to Baton Rouge after multiple seasons with the Sooners looking to replicate the same success he had in Norman as a freshman. Look for Anderson to quickly emerge as WR1 for the Bayou Bengals.

When it comes to Kentucky transfer Barion Brown, his sheer speed and twitchiness is what will make him a lethal weapon for Nussmeier in 2025.

He had inconsistent quarterback play during his time with the Wildcats, and now with a surefire signal-caller at his disposal, it will be a blessing for Brown.

The speedster joins the LSU Tigers with over 120 career catches, 1500+ receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns under his belt at his previous stop.

Brown also holds the record for most kick return touchdowns in SEC history with five in his college career. Look for him to be an integral piece to LSU's success in 2025.

Meet Garrett Nussmeier’s newest weapon: Barion Brown.

The Kentucky transfer holds the record for most kick return touchdowns in the history of the SEC with 5.

The Receiving Numbers: 120+ career catches, 1,500+ yards and 11 TDs.

Unteachable speed.pic.twitter.com/nKcLCL91h9
— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) December 14, 2024

"Explosiveness, veteran presence, maturity that he brings to the room. We have some young players and I think it's pretty clear, when you're recruiting receivers you're looking at who your quarterback is to," Kelly said of Brown in December.

"You've got a veteran quarterback, someone who can push the ball down the field. He looked at that, at the success of the receivers at LSU. He's an explosive player and I think it was pretty easy this was going to be a great fit for him."

Lastly, expect returning piece Aaron Anderson to emerge as the third piece in the wide receiver room alongside [Nic] Anderson and Brown this offseason.

He's fresh off of a career year with the Tigers and comes back to Baton Rouge as the most productive piece on this offense other than Nussmeier.

As a redshirt-freshman in 2023 with LSU, Anderson tallied 12 catches for 59 yards and zero touchdowns.

Then, in 2024, it all came together for the coveted wideout in his second season in Baton Rouge.

Anderson pieced together a breakout year last fall after tallying 53 receptions for 784 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season

What led to the monstrous season for Anderson last season? Brian Kelly chimed in:

"It's everything he does in his life," Kelly said in September. "It's going to class, being on time, his practice habits, framing the ball, catching the ball, it's just everything. It's the natural maturity that comes with being in the program."

LSU WR Aaron Anderson is arguably the Tigers Most Improved Player this season.

The jump from Year 1 to Year 2 gave Garrett Nussmeier another surefire weapon to utilize.

2023: 12 catches, 59 yards + 0 TD
2024: 53 catches, 784 yards + 5 TD

The Louisiana native is a fan favorite. pic.twitter.com/RPrZVkvsdx
— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) December 1, 2024

Competition will be brewing in the receiver room, but the "way-too-early" starters will look to be game changers for Nussmeier.

Backups: Chris Hilton, Kyle Parker and Zavion Thomas

It would be easy to pencil returning piece Chris Hilton in as a starter for the Tigers heading into the 2025 season. He's a dynamic weapon that clearly showcased rapport with Nussmeier towards the end of the 2024 season and into the bowl game.

The main factor will be Hilton's health heading into Week 1 at Clemson. If 100% healthy, he'll be competing for starting duties with the LSU Tigers. Hilton will be an integral piece to this offense.

Aside from Hilton, expect returnees Kyle Parker and Zavion Thomas to carve out efficient roles within the offense.

Kelly and the coaching staff relied on Parker to take starting-caliber snaps for the program when healthy, but a few injuries sidelined the youngster for most of the 2024 season. This offseason will be crucial for his development.

For Thomas, he's a dynamic speedster who's thrived on special teams as a return specialist for this program. He can also be used as a weapon on offense in a myriad of ways.

The Youngsters to Know: Kylan Billiot, Jelani Watkins and TaRon Francis

Kylan Billiot and Jelani Watkins will return to Baton Rouge for their second seasons with the program after redshirting in 2024 as true freshmen.

We've seen the abilities Billiot has, and as he continues developing with the program, it'll be intriguing to see his growth.

For Watkins, it's his speed that separates him from the rest. He's a track star that is continuing to get acclimated to SEC football. He'll be a fun player to watch in Spring Camp.

Lastly, true freshman TaRon Francis could carve out a role within the receiving corps in year one with the purple and gold.

The Edna Karr standout is an early-enrollee and has begun workouts with the program ahead of Spring Camp in March. Look for the physical receiver nicknamed "ManChild" to grow into an intriguing piece to the wideout room sooner rather than later.