Much of the discussion surrounding LSU’s offseason has revolved around the receiver corps and how the Tigers will replace two first-round draft picks in (autotag)Brian Thomas Jr.(/autotag) and (autotag)Malik Nabers(/autotag).
There’s still talent at the wideout position, with (autotag)Kyren Lacy(/autotag) potentially on the verge of his breakout season and (autotag)CJ Daniels(/autotag) coming in after a 1,000-yard season at Liberty in 2023. But another returning player who could finally make a big impression is (autotag)Chris Hilton Jr.(/autotag).
After his first two seasons in Baton Rouge were limited by injuries, Hilton played in 11 games with two starts in 2023 and finished the season with 13 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns – all career highs.
Now that he’s likely being pushed into a starting position, coach (autotag) Brian Kelly (/autotag) had a lot of positive things to say about the work Hilton has done in the offseason.
“It’s his time. He’s been waiting patiently. I think he’s put himself in a great position physically,” Kelly said. “He’s healthy, he’s worked for it, he’s put in time in the offseason. He’s had a really good spring and I think he’s had a good training camp. He’s caught the ball, he’s been effective, I expect him to have a really good season for us.”
“He’s a long-ball threat, but he’s also shown he can run his routes well. He’s even gotten better since training camp… I think he’s had a real learning curve and is getting better every day. But I think he’s going to be a big-impact player for us this year.”
With a new starting quarterback in (autotag)Garrett Nussmeier(/autotag), the Tigers need to be able to rely on their talent on the outside to make plays. Hilton has already flashed those skills and could be ready for a breakout season in 2024.
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This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Brian Kelly expects big things from LSU WR Chris Hilton Jr. in 2024
