Brian Kelly talks up LSU Tigers' surprise all-purpose weapon who continues to impress in multiple phases
The LSU Tigers have seen a wide variety of new playmakers step up this season in every phase of the game. On offense the team had to replace a few first round talents. On defense the Tigers had to replace almost their entire defensive line. Several new faces were going to have to step up […]
The LSU Tigers have seen a wide variety of new playmakers step up this season in every phase of the game. On offense the team had to replace a few first round talents. On defense the Tigers had to replace almost their entire defensive line. Several new faces were going to have to step up in new places.
One player who has been stepping up across multiple phases of the game more than any other on the entire team is transfer wide receiver Zavion Thomas. When asked about Thomas after the game on Saturday, and then again on Wednesday in his SEC media call, LSU head coach Brian Kelly spoke glowingly of his contributions across the board.
"[Zavion Thomas is] what we were looking for when we went into the [transfer] portal."
Both the LSU return game and their wide receiver depth needed a huge jolt of speed and talent after struggling to flip the field on returns in 2023 and sending multiple wide receivers to the first round of the NFL Draft. Zavion Thomas has already proved he was the perfect acquisition.
"We're able now tactically to look at our special teams…sometimes it's difficult to put all your best players on all of the four running [special] teams. Now we can start to apply certain players to certain teams that have the ability to flip field position, change the game, and certainly Zavion is a guy that can do that in the return game. And maybe we didn't have that last year, where, you know, we were wanting to secure the football. Now we want to change field position…I think we take that into account now because of a player like [Zavion Thomas]."
Thomas' explosion was on full display last Saturday as he returned a kick for over 50 yards, flipping the field entirely by himself, as you can see in the highlight play post below.
It was a bit of a short kick, and despite not having much time for his blocks to fully develop, Thomas read the mess in front of him, bounced to the outside at the last moment before contact with multiple engaged defenders, and easily added another 20+ yards to a return that could have been stopped much shorter.
But it's not even just the return game where Thomas is adding value. Thomas leads all LSU Tigers in all-purpose yards through two games as he's compiled 230 rushing, receiving, punt return, and kick return yards together. Thanks much in part to Chris Hilton's slow recovery from injury (a possible starting wide receiver), Thomas stepped up this past week grabbing five receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown came thanks to his speed to get the edge on a quick bump pass from Garrett Nussmeier (as you can see below).
Now that Thomas as proven to be a threat in every phase of the offensive and special teams' game it's going to be difficult to take him off the field for long. Against South Carolina's stingy defensive front LSU might have to get creative with a few plays they scheme up for Thomas. Be looking for LSU to continue leaning on their emerging all-purpose weapon even more in the coming weeks.
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